Casa da Sombra’s Concrete Walls Filter Sunlight

Designed by Laurent Troost Architectures, the Shadow House in Manaus, Brazil, caters for a resident with photophobia, an extreme sensitivity to light.

To prevent direct sunlight from entering the interior, the house has concrete walls that filter the light before it reaches the glass wall, behind internal and external gardens. These gardens are strategically placed in cut-outs in the concrete structure. Between the garage and the living room, as well as on the upper floors, the suite’s gardens offer views of the street and the surrounding area.

The gardens provide the necessary shade and preserve the trees on the site. On the upper floor, the design allows soft natural morning light to enter the master suite through small openings. In the afternoon, the light is filtered to gently illuminate the daughter’s suite.

The double concrete walls above the pool and in the upper gardens feature openings that allow air to circulate, ensuring thermal comfort.

Inside, the living room integrates perfectly with the garden on the edge of the property, maximizing the feeling of spaciousness.

A wooden panel occupies the south side of the floor plan, providing privacy for specific areas, such as the family piano space, while giving access to the upper floor, the kitchen and the barbecue area. The remaining sections of the living room were kept open, improving the visual connection with the outside.

To accommodate the absence of direct sunlight in the house, floor-level luminaires were installed in the living room, corridors and bedrooms on the upper floors, ensuring adequate lighting and comfort for the residents.