Entreparotas house is a project which allows its users to live in a constant relation with nature, therefore the premise of choosing a site that would enhance the relevance of the existing flora and a small stream that passes through the terrain. A tropical vegetation, where the parotas and fig trees stand out, generates a jungle atmosphere that made the design concept possible.
Imposing concrete volumes that understood the site’s topography, were placed in a studied way, generating a series of paths to wander around the house. The created routes, always grant the vegetation to pop out and allow the user to discover the residence.
Selected materials play with a range of neutral and stone-like colors which interpret the essence of a lost ruin in the middle of the jungle, where architecture takes a step back to praise what happens on the outside and also dignifies and favors its components to acquire a perceptible richness as it ages along with the environment.
Light, wind and rain are elements that surround continuously the building, the perforation of big volumes with windows from floor to ceiling, allow the crossing of small gardens which constantly embrace the house.
Downstairs the project harbors the heart of the residence; both living and dining rooms are opened completely with a double height ceiling, which resembles a crystal box that intersects the main axis and blurs the boundaries between inside and outside, providing natural lightning to all the spaces, which are connected through stairs that once again bet for enjoyable passages, with the terrace.
This last one diverges from the rest of the program surrounded by alternated water bodies that reward a closer contact with the garden, and also accommodates a rooftop which you access through a light structured stair to enjoy a moment of sightseeing.
The upper level, hosts the most private zones. Walking through the stairs that are placed in the center of the house, to continue with the idea of the importance of light and the direct connection with the context, you reach an elongated corridor whose perspective is extended with the double height of the ground floor which distributes to the bedrooms.
The proposed structure solved the possibility of large cantilevers and free wall spaces, that could be perceived completely open toward the back facade. This is how a mixed structure of concrete and steel was chosen and achieved a perfect blend with artisan work in stone walls and parota woodwork.
Architect: Di Frenna Arquitectos
Photography: Lorena Darquea
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- This is the front view of the home with a wide concrete driveway and open parking area that can fit up to four vehicles. Beside it is a walkway made of slabs of concrete that lead to the main entry on the right corner of the driveway.
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- Beside the concrete walkway is a large stone wall that forms a corner with the dark gray exterior wall. This small corner is adorned with a small garden that has various tropical plants for accent to the plain gray wall.
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- The left side of the driveway and parking area is a lush landscaping of greenery filled with tall trees and various tropical plants that give accent to the plain gray exterior walls of the home.
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- There is a charming walkway at the side of the house made with pieces of flattened rock. This walkway is flanked by a lush landscaping of green tropical plants on both sides and from here you can see that this side of the house is filled with large glass walls to maximize the green scenery.
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- This walkway starts from the front area of the house beside the parking area and turns to the right and straight to the side of the home that is walls by tall plant life and a small wrought iron gate.
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- The stone walkway turns left and you get to this corner of the house with lush vegetation at the sides and topped with a large balcony at the second level of the house. Here you can also see that the exteriors walls of the house is textured and rough giving it more character.
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- This corner of the house landscaping has tall trees that compete with the height of the house as well as flowering shrubs that give additional spots of color. On the right side is the concrete stairs leading to the other balcony just a little lower than the balcony of the second level.
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- This is a different angle view of the other balcony it has an open area to better appreciate the tall trees encroaching in on the house. The concrete sides of this balcony are adorned with creeping plants.
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- This is a far view of the gray concrete home. Here you can see that it is beautifully framed by the surrounding green landscaping. These are better enjoyed by the high balcony at the back of the house as well as the tall glass walls of the house.
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- This view makes you appreciate the beauty of the house more with about half of it made of glass walls accented by the gray details of the concrete.
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- The concrete and glass parts of the house are also complemented by the dark gray matte panels placed here and there. This view also boasts of the beautiful green lawn of grass at the backyard.
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- This closer view gives us a glimpse of the dining area boxed in the tall glass walls of the central part of the house that connects with the backyard grass lawn through a set of concrete steps.
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- The small area just outside the glass walls are fitted with a gorgeous landscaping of various tropical plants surrounding levels of pond terraces that flows down to each level.
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- This is a closer look at the sets of concrete steps leading from the interiors of the house to the backyard on one side while the closer concrete steps lead into this other section of the house beneath the other balcony.
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- This other section of the house is built on a raised concrete platform from which a spout was built that supplies the flowing waters of the pond terraces.
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- This is a closer view of the stone staircase that leads to the other balcony. This set of stairs has wrought iron black railings matching with the railings of the second level balcony.
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- This stone staircase may look simple but it actually has a beautiful design that totally complements the textured concrete walls of the exteriors.
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- Beneath this other balcony is this lovely covered outdoor area that has an outdoor dining area with a wooden shiplap ceiling over the round glass-top dining table surrounded by wooden wishbone chairs.
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- The interior first level hallway of the house has a dark wooden shiplap ceiling fitted with recessed lights that give off a warm yellow light. This works quite well with the gray marble flooring of the interiors.
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- This is the wooden staircase leading up to the second level of the house. The side has a tall wall of glass supported by large gray steel beams on either side.
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- The large formal dining room has a wide floor space of gray marble and two-story tall wooden ceiling that has a dark brown tone. These all serve as great background for the large wooden dining table surrounded by beige cushioned chairs.
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- The second floor hallway has the same dark wooden ceiling. This area is bordered with waist-high glass walls for safety on the indoor balcony looking over the dining area.
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- The lights of the house exteriors are all turned on giving it a nice warm homey glow that balances out the concrete, steel and glass details.
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- These exterior lights are match by the yellow lights of the landscaping like the spot lights that are illuminating the tall tree and its surrounding shrubbery.
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- Here you can see that the raise concrete platforms of the house exteriors also light up with warm yellow backl ight making it appear as if those sections of the house are levitation off the ground.
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- The gorgeous modern house is complemented by the various tall trees surrounding the house.
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- Here you can see more of the stunning lanscaping applied to the house. The terrace ponds lead to this lowest level where it is bordered with various shrubs that are well-maintained and healthy.
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- This is a closer look at where the water accumulate after passing through the levels of the terrace ponds. This also gives a view of the recessed lights over the outdoor dining area.
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- This angle shows more of the lighting applied in the landscaping. The sets of concrete steps are illuminated with a warm yellow glow from underneath.
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- The various tall glass windows are on full display in this particular angle. Everything glows amber thanks to those glass windows that emanate the yellow glow of the interiors. This vantage also gives a glimpse of the living room area on the far side of the main central hall.
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- The well-lit concrete steps are flanked by lush green ferns and illuminated by the recessed lights of the concrete ceilings and wall-mounted lamps of the exterior walls.
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- This is a view of the outdoor dining area from the vantage of the concrete steps. You can see here that there is also a bar on the far corner with the outdoor dining area. It has waterfall black granite countertops paired with dark wood.
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- The garage area at the front of the house is also well-lit with recessed lights and exterior wall lights. These makes the gorgeous wooden main door stand out.
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- The warm and welcoming yellow glow of the whole house makes it stand out against the dark tall trees of the surrounding landscape. Some spots of small gardens are lit with in-ground spot lights.
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- The wooden ceiling of the outdoor dining area has recessed lights to brighten the area and is supported by multiple dark brown pillars that stand out against the wooden ceiling and beige flooring.