Casa Campinarana by Laurent Troost
Surrounded by rainforest, Casa Campinarana is an industrial two-story house located in Manaus, Brazil, designed in 2018 by Laurent Troost.
About Casa Campinarana
Architectural Ingenuity in the Amazon
The Amazon demands unique, climate-responsive architectural strategies. Here, extreme environmental conditions meet the equator. As a result, architecture emphasizes thermal comfort and passive sustainability. Strategies include optimal deployment, protective eaves creation, and maximizing cross-ventilation. Furthermore, local ecological systems must stay preserved. Specifically, the project began with a focus on conserving the Campinarana. This Amazon forest type features small trees on shallow, clayey soil.
Reversing Conventional Designs
To limit deforestation, designers altered classic housing typologies on the 20 x 40 m plot (65.6 x 131.2 ft). Ground floors house the rooms. Meanwhile, living spaces, outdoor seating, and the pool sit above. Splitting the home into two volumes optimized climate exposure. The elongated volume accommodates sun-welcoming functions: access, garage, storage, pool, and laundry. Conversely, the transverse volume shelters sun-sensitive areas: the living and dining rooms, kitchen, and bedrooms.
A Nod to Colonial Architecture
The main transverse volume draws inspiration from colonial roofs. This design showcases eight pitches across two independent levels. This layout harnesses winds, creates an insulating air cushion, and ensures the upper floor’s thermal comfort. Its slender design promotes cross-ventilation, a passive energy-saving method suitable for the region. Consequently, energy consumption drops significantly. The roof’s east and west sides boast vertical planes, shielding inhabitants from the equatorial sun’s early and late rays.
Sustainable Features and Material Choices
Designers also introduced a standalone roof, extending two meters north and south. Supported by eight “V” pillars, this roof adjusts to yearly thermal shifts without straining the home’s structure. Corten, chosen for the roof, complements the Campina Forest and Amazon’s iconic reddish clay terrain. Its low-maintenance nature is an added bonus. Finally, the fully-glazed living room, outfitted with sliding windows and glass fins, integrates effortlessly with the terrace, solarium, pool, and surrounding nature.
Photography by Maira Acayaba
- by Matt Watts
