A Dialogue Between Architecture and Nature
Casa Serena emerges from the landscape of Serra da Mantiqueira like a natural extension of the terrain. The project was conceived around a central idea: to create a home that breathes with its surroundings, where the boundaries between interior and exterior dissolve into a continuous experience of space and light.
The design responds to the steep topography with a series of horizontal planes that cascade down the hillside, each level offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Large glass facades on the north side maximize solar gain during winter while deep overhangs provide shade in summer, creating a naturally comfortable interior climate year-round.
Materials were chosen for their honesty and connection to place. Exposed concrete with board-formed textures grounds the structure, while warm wood cladding on ceilings and select walls introduces intimacy to the public spaces. The palette of grays, whites, and natural wood tones allows the ever-changing landscape to remain the protagonist.
The program distributes across three levels: social areas and a primary suite occupy the main floor, taking full advantage of the views; guest bedrooms are tucked into the level below, with direct access to the garden; and a wine cellar and home theater occupy the lowest level, carved into the hillside. A infinity pool extends from the living room terrace, its edge aligned with the distant mountain ridge, creating an uninterrupted visual connection to the horizon.
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