Miracle House / Grupo Culata Jovái

Architects: Grupo Culata Jovái
Area: 135 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Federico Cairoli
Architect in Charge: Emmerick Braun, Miky González Merlo
Collaborators: Mariángeles González, Néstor Espínola, Camila Fernández, Gabriela Benegas, Celeste Delvalle, Giuliana Echauri, Lucía Peña
Structural Engineer: Ing. José González
City: Itauguá
Country: Paraguay

Miracle House residential building designed by Grupo Culata Jovái near the Metropolitan Area of Asunción, Paraguay has explored the delicate coexistence between architecture and nature in a forested site framed by the Yvytypanema mountain range and Lake Ypacaraí. Developed in response to the site’s topography, vegetation, and water flow, the project places the house at the back of the lot in a clearing, maintaining privacy while preserving direct contact with the landscape. Terraces are designed to follow the trees and manage rainwater, extending indoor spaces outward and enhancing the experience of transition. Local stone and ceramic define the material palette, while a second floor was added during construction to meet changing needs. Bathrooms feature interior gardens and an autonomous sanitary block, and wastewater is processed through an evapotranspiration chamber to protect the groundwater. Openings frame specific views, and a unified kitchen and living area support social interaction, resulting in a house that engages deeply with its natural setting.

Situated in a distinctive location between the Yvytypanema mountain range and Lake Ypacaraí, this residential project represents an approach to design that responds directly to the land, where the terrain, water flow, and distribution of trees revealed both the potential and limitations of the site.

Álvaro Siza’s statement, “Building in a beautiful place is almost the certainty of its destruction,” served as a point of reflection for the project. The intervention prompted a careful consideration of how architecture could coexist with the landscape, balancing human presence with the preservation of the site’s exceptional beauty and sense of tranquility.

The plot belongs to a forest remnant located near the Metropolitan Area of Asunción. The house’s volume is strategically positioned at the rear of the lot, within a natural clearing among the trees, providing privacy from the street while preserving both visual and physical continuity with the surrounding landscape.

The exterior terraces were conceived as a base that adapts to the location of nearby trees, redirecting rainwater and forming areas that complement the interior spaces. This base extends the livable areas and enables a seamless transition between interior and exterior, allowing the house to function as a broad intermediary zone in constant dialogue with the surrounding vegetation.

The flexibility of the project became apparent during its development, as a second floor was added spontaneously to address emerging requirements. In terms of materials, the construction relied primarily on locally sourced resources, mainly stone and ceramic.

Particular care was devoted to the design of the bathrooms, which feature an interior garden and an independent sanitary block, emphasizing the aim to create micro-environments that mirror the surrounding vegetation. In addition, waste management was handled through the use of an evapotranspiration chamber, designed to protect the existing water table by containing wastewater within a closed system.

The openings of the house were designed as green frames, capturing selected views and highlighting the landscape’s beauty, thereby strengthening the relationship between interior and exterior spaces. The kitchen and living area were combined into a single, expansive communal space that promotes social interaction and enhances the experience of the surrounding natural environment.

The project represents an example of how architecture can coexist with nature, honoring and amplifying the inherent beauty of the site. Each design decision, from the positioning of the structure to the selection of materials, demonstrates a clear commitment to sustainability and harmony with the landscape, resulting in a residence that not only occupies the environment but also celebrates its presence.