Architecture and interior: Equipe Lamas
In order to come up with the very specific design ideas, we create most designs with the assistance of state-of-the-art AI interior design software. Also, assume links that take you off the site are affiliate links such as links to Amazon. this means we may earn a commission if you buy something.
About Studio
LAMAS is an architecture, design, and engineering studio based in Brasilia. The studio is led by the founder, civil engineer Ruy Lamas, and his son, architect Samuel Lamas, the company’s creative director.
When it was created in 1987, LAMAS operated exclusively in civil construction and, since 2010, the studio creates and develops architectural projects and authorial furniture. LAMAS seeks simplicity, usefulness, and solidity in its projects and products designed for the human experience today.
Simple and low-cost materials combine in the Itaipu House, a contemporary family home that doesn’t compromise on looks despite its relatively modest construction budget. Architect Samuel Lamas, of the Brasilia-based architecture firm Equipe Lamas, designed the four-bedroom home within a condominium complex near Lago Sul, Brazil.
Completed this year for a construction cost of approximately $189,000, the modern dwelling minimizes its energy bills through solar water heaters and passive solar design. Spanning an area of nearly 3,800 square feet, the spacious single-story home is centered on an open-plan living area, dining room, and kitchen that open up to a large, south-facing covered terrace that looks towards the pool.
The master bedroom and two secondary bedrooms are located to the east of the living spaces while the flex guest bedroom, service areas, storage, and garage are to the west. Existing site conditions as well as the desire to preserve native trees informed the orientation of the house and the interior layout, which are also optimized for natural light and ventilation thanks to full-height operable glazing that promote indoor/outdoor living.
The furnishings are set against a neutral material palette of low-cost materials elegantly fitted together for an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The floors throughout are polished concrete while the masonry walls have been painted white to serve as a clean backdrop for the colorful, contemporary artworks that punctuate the home. Plywood paneling was installed for the ceiling and the cabinetry to lend a sense of warmth.
The most reserved lounge was intended for dinner, business meetings, and musical events. It was decided to insert a single dining table that accommodated a number of close the seats offered by the living environment. The elongated shape of this room allows a second more playful use with the layout of a piano.
It reserves around the piano a free space to be used in eventual auditions with various instrumentalists. The choice of a bench provides seats for the auditions without obstructing the view of the piano, which defines and protects the space. The insertion of an artistic armchair next to the piano strengthens the playful spirit suggested by this environment.
For the deck was assigned a more relaxed use and connected with nature. A “tea house” was then inserted with high tables and light chairs and one along the side bench arranged small support tables.
For the closet, defined as a completely enclosed space, we opted for the use of a wall of mirrors, which eliminates the feeling of a corridor. Furniture in vibrant colors and natural fabrics establishes a playful and purist atmosphere.