Located in the rural landscape of Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Seriema House by TETRO is a retreat designed to engage with its surroundings through contrast and transition. Positioned between an open mountain vista and a dense forest, the residence creates a dynamic interplay between exposure and shelter. The design orchestrates a deliberate shift from the urban to the organic, offering a space for reflection, retreat, and sensory engagement with the natural environment.
Seriema House Technical Information
- Architects1-14: TETRO Architecture
- Location: Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Total Built Area: 350 m² | 3,760 Sq. Ft.
- Completion Year: 2024
- Photographs: © Luisa Lage
A winding wall divides the house into two worlds—one open, bright, and dynamic, the other introspective, shaded, and immersed in the forest. This architectural gesture defines the spatial experience, balancing contrast and harmony.
– TETRO Architects
Seriema House Photographs
Spatial Composition: The Duality of Open and Enclosed Spaces
At the project’s core is a sinuous stone wall that serves as a spatial divider and a conceptual element. This gesture delineates two distinct realms: the extroverted, dynamic space for gathering and the introspective, sheltered space for solitude. The house is not an isolated object but an intermediary between contrasting conditions, embracing expansive views and protective enclosure.
The public-facing side, oriented towards the mountains, is flooded with natural light and remains open to movement and sound. This area functions as the social heart of the house, where interactions unfold against the backdrop of the horizon. In contrast, the private side, embedded within the density of the forest, cultivates stillness. Deep shadows, filtered light, and tactile materiality create an ambiance conducive to contemplation and rest.
Circulation through the house becomes an architectural sequence, a deliberate choreography that guides inhabitants between moments of openness and intimacy. The project’s spatial logic is rooted in fluidity rather than rigidity, allowing the user to engage with the house as a continuous experience rather than a static object.
Seriema House Tactile Expression
Material selection in Seriema House is not merely an aesthetic decision but a means of embedding the architecture within its environment. Black stone, used for the undulating wall, anchors the house within the earth, lending it a monolithic presence. This contrasts with the white stone flooring, which introduces a sense of lightness and continuity. The dialogue between these materials heightens the perceptual experience of the space, emphasizing weight and levity, darkness and illumination.
Beyond visual impact, the house’s materiality is designed to age with the landscape. The rough-hewn texture of the stone reflects the site’s natural formations, reinforcing the building’s connection to its surroundings. Meanwhile, the selective use of wood and glass introduces elements of warmth and transparency, further balancing the architectural composition.
The house’s relationship with natural light is also a defining characteristic. Openings are not arbitrary but precisely positioned to enhance the interplay between shadow and illumination. The shaded forest zone benefits from dappled light, creating an interior atmosphere that shifts throughout the day. In contrast, the sunlit areas facing the mountains capture a broad spectrum of changing conditions, reinforcing the fluid nature of the architectural experience.
Broader Context: Architecture as an Extension of the Environment
Beyond its immediate spatial and material logic, Seriema House engages with broader architectural themes. It exemplifies a context-sensitive approach, resisting the urge to impose itself onto the landscape and adapting to its conditions. The residence does not dominate its site but negotiates with it, allowing the natural setting to remain the defining presence.
This attitude aligns with regional architectural traditions that prioritize integration with nature over formal autonomy. While the house possesses a contemporary formal language, its principles—using local materials, passive climate strategies, and spatial fluidity—resonate with vernacular precedents. The design leverages natural cross-ventilation and thermal mass to minimize reliance on mechanical systems, underscoring a commitment to sustainability beyond superficial gestures.
Ultimately, Seriema House challenges conventional residential paradigms by privileging experience over spectacle. It is not a house that seeks to be viewed but demands to be inhabited, touched, and traversed. In this sense, it aligns with a lineage of architecture that prioritizes the phenomenological—where space is not a fixed entity but an evolving dialogue between built form, nature, and human perception.
Seriema House Plans
Seriema House Image Gallery
About TETRO
TETRO Arquitetura, established in 2001 and based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, is led by architects Carlos Maia, Débora Mendes, and Igor Macedo. The firm emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, integrating architecture and engineering to create unique, context-sensitive designs harmonizing with nature.
Credits and Additional Notes
- Lead Architects: Carlos Maia, Débora Mendes, Igor Macedo
- Structural Engineering: Cálculo Concreto
- Hydraulic & Electrical Engineering: CA Engenharia
- Lighting Design: Iluminar
- Contributors: Bruno Bontempo, Bianca Carvalho, Bruna Maciel, Carolina Amaral, Saulo Saraiva, Sabrina Freitas
- Construction Company: Techno
- Windows & Glass: Cinex
- Cladding, Ceramics & Metals: Bel Lar
- Stonework: Art Pedras
- Woodwork & Kitchen Cabinetry: Líder
- Marble Work: Mármores LTDA
- Air Conditioning: Grupo Orlando
- Furniture: São Romão
- Curtains: Ana Luisa Decorações
