perforated brick facade punctuates fernanda padula's concrete house in brazil

"Casa Royal by Fernanda Padula emerges as an expression of harmony between architecture and terrain. Located on a sloped plot in Brazil, the single-storey residence is carefully embedded into the site, embracing the contours of the landscape while reflecting a visual sensibility that remains sensitive to light and air. With a bold form, the project stands out for the use of exposed materials, which reinforces the robustness and functionality of the structure"

"Its walls rise in response to the topography, while revealing the construction process itself - a gesture aligned with the brutalist idea of celebrating materials in their most honest form. Here, raw concrete intertwines with hollow bricks which are strategically positioned on the facades of the bedrooms, function as sunshades, controlling the incidence of direct light and interpreting one of the most relevant architectural objects of South America: the cobogó."

"Architect Fernanda Padula's use of cobogó adds a softness and permeability to the design, creating a connection between the internal and external spaces, allowing natural light to enter, and promoting effective cross-ventilation. In addition to fulfilling practical functions, the cobogó has a strong aesthetic character, creating a play of shadows that changes throughout the day and intensifies the sense of dynamism within Casa Royal. At night, the box transforms into a large lantern, illuminating the plot through the intricate panels of the facade."

Casa Royal sits on a sloped plot in Brazil and is embedded into the site to follow the landscape contours. The single-storey plan strengthens the connection between interior spaces and the surrounding terrain, enabling a seamless transition to the landscape and a lifestyle in dialogue with nature. Exposed materials emphasize robustness and functionality while revealing construction processes in a brutalist celebration of material honesty. Walls rise in direct response to topography. Raw concrete intertwines with strategically placed hollow bricks that act as sunshades, control direct light, reference the cobogó, and promote natural cross-ventilation. The cobogó panels create shifting shadow patterns by day and transform the house into a lantern at night.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine