Ana Paula Barros designed the Loft Bauhaus in Brasília, the capital city of Brazil.
Project description
Inspired by the famous Farnsworth House by Mies Van der Rohe, the project explores four of the five points of modern architecture: open plan, pilotis, free facade and ribbon windows. Despite the straight lines and clean architecture presented in the design, organic and natural elements like stone, iron and wood, which are a constant in the work of Ana Paula, provide warmth and cosines, essential elements for a house and, especially, to live.
The project is composed by a large living room / dining room, which also works as a balcony. The room and the bathroom are in the same environment, having only the toilet hidden. The bath is open to the outdoor garden with a huge glass panel. The kitchen, which has no divisions, is located on the opposite side of the room and it is integrated with the dining room.
The concern with sustainability is a constant in this project. In the hot and humid climate of Brazil the house is suspended of the ground and also has upper ventilation, a feature that helps thermal comfort. The house is at 60cm of the ground, to avoid the weather discomforts. The hydraulic and electrical installation can be done under-floor, without requiring excavation and it’s easy to maintain.
The gaps opened above the beams allows the exit of the hot air, combined with the wide open sliding glass panels, creating a pleasant thermal sensation to the environment, reducing the need of air conditioning.
Thinking about sustainability, the materials used for coating are made of reforested autoclaved pines, steel structure of construction debris and Brazilian stones. A drawing of iron plates between the stones reminds to Mondrian’s neoplasticism. The access to the house is done by a ramp; the building doesn’t have any unevenness, which helps the resident with special needs to move around.
Design: Ana Paula Barros
Photography by Edgard Cézar