Embracing nature in its purest form was the wish of
Dudu Azevedo when conceiving his home in Itanhangá, a neighborhood surrounded by the Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro. In partnership with architect
Pedro Coimbra and designer
Zanini de Zanine, the actor and musician designed from scratch a
house of 500 m² that molds itself to the rugged topography and dissolves into the surrounding landscape, in harmony between architecture, nature, and lifestyle.
From the beginning, the request was clear: that
the construction had the least possible impact on the land and preserved the native forest. Delicately supported on two natural slopes, the house respects the relief and allows local animals to continue circulating freely, as evidenced by the frequent "banana raids" performed by local monkeys.
The residence is an ode to simplicity.
Structured in exposed concrete and glass, the construction refers to Brazilian modernism, while the wood warms the internal spaces, creating a cozy and contemporary atmosphere. "The concept was to make a concrete house, grounded, but completely open to nature," explains Dudu.
The monumental facade reveals the essence of the project: pure lines, large glass panes, and total integration with the surrounding greenery.
The entire house is organized around continuous balconies, connecting intimate and social spaces and providing abundant natural light throughout the day. Projeto de Pedro Coimbra. (Leo Costa/Divulgação)
Internally, the project translates the way the owner lives. The social area was designed to host friends and family, while the intimate wing preserves the necessary seclusion, always with the possibility of access to the exterior. The functional layout ensures fluid circulation and reinforces the connection with the projects.
The curation of the furniture reinforces the Brazilian identity of the project.
Pieces with modern lines, artworks by Mario Cravo Neto, and materials that dialogue with the rusticity of the surroundings were chosen to compose a sophisticated atmosphere of Brazilian identity. Natural light, the protagonist of the project, passes through the house from end to end, creating games of light and shadow that vary throughout the day.
The projects, almost entirely surrounded by glass, allow the landscape to enter as an integral part of the architecture. Sustainable in its essence, the project avoids large interventions in the soil and values the existing vegetation. The respect for the projects, the choice of durable materials, and the appreciation of natural light configure a conscious approach aligned with the new paradigms of contemporary architecture.
