Located within the rolling terrain of Bragança Paulista, Brazil, the GM House by Padovani Arquitetos exemplifies a harmonious dialogue between architecture and nature. Designed for a young family, the residence redefines modern living by embracing the unique topography of its site, blending horizontally into the contours of the landscape below street level. With its natural materials, central void, and flourishing rooftop gardens, the house epitomizes the seamless integration of design and environment.
GM House Technical Information
- Architects: Padovani Arquitetos
- Location: Bragança Paulista, Brazil
- Topics: Brazilian Houses
- Area: 900 m2 | 9,600 Sq. Ft.
- Completion Year: 2021
- Photographs: © Evelyn Müller
The GM House blends seamlessly with its sloped terrain, flowing horizontally below street level. Featuring natural materials, a central void, and blooming rooftop gardens, it harmonizes modern design with the beauty of the landscape.
– Padovani Architects
GM House Photographs
Design and Spatial Organization
The GM House takes full advantage of its sloped terrain, turning a potential design challenge into an architectural feature. Located slightly below street level, the residence establishes a single access point on a continuous plateau, creating an inviting entryway. A central void, framed by a floating metal roof structure, becomes the heart of the house, connecting the social and intimate blocks while offering a sense of openness and flow.
This void serves as a physical connector and a symbolic element, emphasizing the project’s horizontality. The arrangement of the house’s social and private volumes under the expansive roof showcases a deliberate architectural intent to create balance and coherence. By working with the site’s natural slope, the residence offers uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape, enhancing the living experience for its inhabitants.
Materiality and Landscaping
The GM House’s material choices thoughtfully blend aesthetics and functionality. Warm-toned wood, bricks, and natural stone harmonize with sleek aluminum panels, creating a balance between natural warmth and modern sophistication. These materials enhance the visual appeal and provide durability and a sense of permanence.
Roof cutouts and hollow elements introduce rooftop gardens and terraces, reinforcing the integration between architecture and the natural environment. These landscaped areas, designed by Alexandre Furcolin, transform the house into a living extension of the surrounding landscape. The green spaces soften the structure’s geometry while creating opportunities for leisure and contemplation, embodying the essence of indoor-outdoor living.
A Celebration of Contemporary Brazilian Architecture
The GM House perfectly combines modern design principles with natural integration. Its horizontality, use of natural materials, and landscaping strategies highlight a profound respect for the site’s context while offering an elevated living experience. By merging architecture with the environment, Padovani Arquitetos has crafted a residence that not only meets the practical needs of its inhabitants but also celebrates the beauty of the Brazilian landscape.
GM House Plans
GM House Image Gallery
About Padovani Arquitetos
Padovani is a Brazilian architecture and design office that weaves its narrative with lines that seek to express personality with simplicity, establishing an intense dialogue with nature. The office conceives the uniqueness of projects by investigating the best technical response in harmony with conceptual poetics and client needs, a ritual repeated in every detail. Their identity is marked by elegance, applied to a design that breathes tropicality and expresses the essence of these characteristics in their creations.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Architecture: Padovani
- Landscaping: Alexandre Furcolin
