March 14, 2025

Guarujá House by Nitsche Arquitetos

Located in Guarujá, Brazil, Guarujá House features the work of Nitsche Arquitetos. The house in Guarujá on the coast of São Paulo is built within a gated community in a protected area of the original Atlantic Forest. Its design is divided into three levels to accommodate 450 m² of built space and comply with regulations permitting only 30% of the land area to be developed.

A modern, glass-walled house with a swimming pool surrounded by lush greenery.

Innovative three-level design and use of space

To achieve this, the design was divided into three levels. The 1,310 m² plot, with a constant slope of 14%, allowed for the inclusion of a basement, covered by a concrete slab. This space houses the garage, the technical areas, the sauna and the spa, the latter with views of the surrounding forest. In addition, there is small accommodation for a couple of employees, as well as a laundry room and a storage area.

Expansive modern living space with glass walls, wood accents, and minimalist decor.

High structure of the rooms and integration with nature

Four metal pillars elevate the volume of the bedrooms, supported by two Pratt trusses, creating a free space between the second floor and the basement. The bedroom windows open onto the treetops, and the shade created by the structure defines the social area. The central floor is an almost completely open space, protected by sliding glass panels, allowing views of the forest from every angle.

Sleek, modern outdoor space with pool, covered patio, and minimalist furnishings.

Dynamic façade and seamless interior-exterior connection

Folding cement panels guarantee privacy while adding dynamism to the façade. Large sliding glass doors allow the bedrooms and kitchen to merge seamlessly with a covered outdoor space, dissolving the boundaries between inside and out, creating a cohesive integration of all the spaces on this level.

Minimalist bedroom with large glass windows overlooking lush greenery.

Construction Process as Component Assembly

The construction process was more of an assembly of components than a traditional on-site construction, minimizing waste and speeding up construction time. This approach was especially effective given the limited working area, using industrialized materials to their full potential.