Casa Baleia by Two Arquitetura
Casa Baleia is a coastal home renovation in Praia da Baleia, São Sebastião, Brazil, designed in 2023 by Two Arquitetura. The project involved transforming the original façade and replacing the dark wood cladding with light stones, creating a bright and airy atmosphere. Large windows enhance the connection with the forest, and the use of natural materials ensures harmony with the environment.
About Casa Baleia
Light Stones Create a Bright and Airy Atmosphere
The project involved transforming the original façade onto a forest-facing aspect and replacing the dark wood cladding with local light stones, creating a bright and airy atmosphere. Light wood was also used for the central ceiling, breaking the lower geometry of the house located at the top of a hill.
Large windows were added to enhance the connection with the natural surroundings, while the use of natural materials such as wood and local stones ensures harmony with the environment.
A Revamped Exterior Area and Immersion into Nature
The exterior area was revamped, including a white stone floor and an organically shaped pool, promoting comfort and outdoor living year-round.
The central concept of Casa Baleia is to transform the homeowners’ experience by immersing the architecture into nature, inviting the forest inside the home. The main motivation was to reverse the logic of the original design, which had the house facing away from the nature and towards the condominium. The new approach turned the entire house to face the forest—a neighborless environment—creating greater privacy and allowing the residents to deeply connect with the surrounding woods.
Natural Light and Year-Round Comfort Through Window Positioning
The inspiration came from the desire to combine the best of both worlds: the vibrant energy of the beach in the summer and the cozy atmosphere of a country house in the winter. To ensure year-round comfort, TWO incorporated large windows that allow natural light and ventilation to fill the space, creating a fresh, airy feel in the summer. In the winter, the house was designed to be equally inviting, with a large fireplace and materials like stone and wood on the walls, which help to warm the space.
The interior design was also carefully considered, with comfortable and cozy materials, creating spaces that invite relaxation and socializing, whether in the cold or the heat. Each space was carefully positioned to allow the homeowners to experience the sounds, light, and freshness of the forest at all times—whether waking up or going to sleep.
Expansive Windows and Unique Daily Access to the Outdoors
The bathrooms, for example, were designed with large windows to expand the feeling of freedom and connection with the natural surroundings.
The project transformed not only the shape of the house but also its relationship with the environment, creating a true immersion in the natural surroundings. By turning the house to face the forest, the aim was for nature to become more than just an external backdrop—it becomes an essential part of the daily life of the homeowners, providing a unique experience of intimacy and connection with what surrounds them.
Photography courtesy of Two Arquitetura
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