Between the Atlantic Forest and the southeastern coast of Brazil, a family home in Ubatuba offers a quiet encounter between contemporary architecture, natural materials and living close to the landscape. Ubatuba, a coastal city in the state of São Paulo near the border with the state of Rio de Janeiro, is located in a green area rich in tropical vegetation, between the mountains and the sea. The house, which covers an area of 260 square meters, was designed by the firm Pitta Architecture, led by architects Thiago Pitta and Rodrigo Pereira, and with the participation of Luíza Querido from the project team, as an open, multi-layered living space where family life, guest areas, and the surrounding landscape integrate into one continuity.

Ofri Paz | STANNEL

The design starting point is expressed first and foremost in the building itself: a simple and precise volume, which takes its character from a wide, four-pitched roof covered with black tiles. The choice of a dark roof gives the house a strong and clear presence, while the large openings, covered balconies and generous roof lines moderate the mass and create shaded transition areas between inside and outside. In addition to the aesthetic aspect, a ventilated air layer was designed in the roof between the external cladding and the internal wooden ceiling, a solution that reduces the transfer of heat to the spaces of the house and adapts it to the local climate.

The program is spread over two floors, with a clear division between the public areas and the more private spaces. The ground floor concentrates the main life of the house: a living room, dining area, kitchen with a central island, a reception balcony and three suites. The upper floor was designed as a quieter and more intimate area, where the master suite and a multi-purpose TV room are located and which also serves as a home office. This creates a balance between open, shared spaces and areas that allow for privacy and relaxation.

In the public space, the living room, dining area, and kitchen were designed as one continuous space, without sharp separations. A light floor extends from the interior to the exterior areas, and the wooden ceilings continue to the covered balconies, so that the materials are what connect the spaces and define the feeling of being in them. The kitchen integrates into the space through clean, functional carpentry, and the central island serves as a daily meeting point between cooking, entertaining, and family life.

Next to the kitchen and living room is the entertaining balcony, designed as a flexible space. It can open up to the public area and become part of it, or be closed off with folding panels when separation is required. This solution allows the house to change depending on its use: from intimate family routine to more extensive entertaining, without compromising the overall sense of continuity.

The ground floor bedroom area is separated from the public space by an internal corridor, creating a gradual transition to quieter areas. Two of the suites are located in this area, while the third suite enjoys direct access to the garden and pool. It was designed as a special space for the children, with openings that open to the outside, allowing them to be close to the family activities, but within their own independent space.

The upper floor houses the master suite, which continues the home’s sense of tranquility but gives it a more private and secluded dimension. The location on the second floor allows for an open view of the surrounding greenery and the mountains, and distances the suite from the daily activities of the ground floor. Adjacent to it is the TV room and home office, so that the entire floor functions as a personal and flexible area, combining rest, work and leisure.

The bathrooms integrate into the overall language of the home through subdued tones, natural materials, and a clean feel. They are not disconnected from the design line of the suites, but rather continue it and emphasize comfortable daily use alongside a calm and precise atmosphere.

The courtyard and pool complement the house and extend the living experience to the outdoors. Tropical vegetation surrounds the building, providing privacy and softening its architectural lines. The wooden surfaces, irregular stone paving and pool integrate naturally with the garden, creating a relaxing living area around water, shade and views. In this way, the outdoors becomes not a symbolic continuation of the house, but an active part of daily life there.

Architecture |Pitta ArchitecturePhotography |João Paulo Soares de Oliveira, JP Image Arq

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