River House | DANIEL FROMER & ARQUITETOS

Located on the banks of a river, the house develops from a discreet construction and is integrated into the surrounding nature. The architectural project, signed by Daniel Fromer & Arquitetos, sought to meet the client's wishes of having a house completely integrated into the local town of Santa Cruz Cabrália, in Bahia – Brazil.

The generosity of the land allowed the architects to create a deconstructed program - a house distributed in three blocks that include social, intimate and service functions.

The main block, facing the rainy beach, houses the master suite and a lounge integrated with the balconies and the open kitchen. The second block resembles a hut, housing two suites and a guest lounge. The third block has a laundry room, a storage room and a workshop where the owner works on his handicrafts. 

The absence of an entrance door or hall means that the residence is accessed from a transparent social block, with a view of the river in the background - hence the name “Casa do Rio” (River House).

The sunshine and the different floods and flows of the river that borders the house's large plot create different scenarios at every moment of the day.

Social and environmental sustainability is at the heart of the project, present from the conception, such as the positioning of the house in the middle of the village and the distance from the river, to the demolition and reuse materials that were widely used. The workforce is also local, with the architects' team always mindful of caring for these professionals.

The materials harmonize with other traditional buildings in the area, reflecting the social context of the surroundings, such as: white masonry on the walls, burnt cement on the floor, peroba-rosa on the ceiling and demolition ceramic tiles, as well as the taubilha roof - a typical feature of the region.

On the façade, the muxarabis stand out, a piece of Arab origin, in the shape of a wooden lattice, which allows natural light and ventilation into the interior spaces. For this project, the element was made to measure and its design is reminiscent of the structures that existed on the resident's family farm, recalling their affective past.

In the outdoor area, a sculpture by artist José Resende is made from copper rods left over from the grounding of the house and peroba stumps left over from the roofing work.

Inside, the decoration was designed by the residents, revealing their experiences and memories, as contemporary furniture and pieces made by local carpenters and from nearby towns complement the furniture inherited from the family.

Team Daniel Fromer & Arquitetos: Julia Meirelles and Yane Custódio

Photography: Beto Riginik