In the interior of São Paulo state, a house bends exposed brick into long, rolling curves that seem to move with the land. Passive House was conceived during the isolation of the pandemic, when its owners began to want a simpler, more self-sufficient life. They asked Mareines Arquitetura, a Rio de Janeiro studio known for organic, considerate design, to make it happen.
A wave-shaped roof and a single rupture
The house is defined by a wave-like roof and a compact volume set on top of it. The brick curve dips downward at one point. That gesture creates a striking silhouette and also collects rainwater.
A roof that does more than shelter is also worth studying here, since it shapes both silhouette and water flow. Chile’s Casa Ensenada and its form-and-function roof shows how a single roofline can serve the same dual purpose.
Founders Ivo Mareines and Matthieu Van Beneden describe the design as a study in constant change. The waves stand for movement. The upper volume, they say, is a modernist intervention that breaks the rhythm and anchors the whole project.
Making the curve without losing a clean, precise look was the team’s hardest problem. The architects chose solid brick made from soil taken on the site. They say this choice proved valuable for both sustainability and appearance. The next task was reconciling the complex geometry with the engineering demands, so that the fluid form stayed both functional and beautiful.
The plot in São Paulo began as an open field. To bring back the forest, the architects partnered with the landscaping firm Vistara Paisagismo. The restoration of native planting is now central to how the house sits in its setting.
A cloister for contemplation in São Paulo state
At the centre of the plan lies a triangular yard enclosed by walls and planted with many species. Several passages lead from the yard to the entrance. Mareines describes the space as a reinterpretation of the cloisters found in monasteries, designed as a place for tranquillity, contemplation and meditation.
Nearly all the masonry is exposed brick, paired with wood and glass. Each material was chosen or combined so the house stays comfortable without mechanical systems. The materials do the environmental work, not the equipment.
Two volumes, one continuous plan
The house is split into two sections. The ground floor is entirely open plan, with social areas and guest suites flowing into one another. Walls are absent. Water reflections, furniture, roof curvature and light create the zones instead.
Mareines names the main atrium as his favourite space. He notes that daylight moving across the curves changes through the day, which makes the building feel alive.
Guest bedrooms also sit on the ground floor. Sliding doors and glass frames blur the boundary with the pool area outside. The upper volume, set above the garden, holds the primary bedroom, an office and a bathroom, with views over the surrounding land.
Cooling and water without air conditioning
The exposed brick roof does more than mark the building. It channels rainwater toward the pool. Double slabs and generous eaves limit heat gain, making the house an eco-house whose interiors stay comfortable without air conditioning.
Brick as a sustainable material is a recurring theme in this design, and the approach has parallels in heritage work. Design Museum Gent’s white-brick sustainable architecture offers a useful comparison for readers interested in how masonry can carry environmental goals.
The project in São Paulo is 1,350 square metres and was completed in 2024. Leonardo Finotti photographed it. The credits list includes:
- Architects: Mareines Arquitetura
- Project team: Ivo Pedro Mareines, Matthieu Van Beneden and Isabella Slawka (coordinating architect)
- Landscape architecture: Vistara Paisagismo
- Engineering and construction: TJ7 Engenharia e Construtora
- Lighting: Lightworks
- Window frames: Weiku
The founders hope visitors will feel awe and curiosity as they move through the house. Ivo Mareines says it “does not impose presence; it welcomes.” More about the studio’s work is available at mareinesarquitetura.com.br.
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Frequently asked questions
Who designed the Passive House in São Paulo state?
Passive House was designed by Mareines Arquitetura, a Rio de Janeiro studio known for organic, considerate design. The owners asked the studio to create a simpler, more self-sufficient home after the isolation of the pandemic.
How does the brick roof collect and direct rainwater?
The wave-shaped brick roof dips downward at one point, which creates a striking silhouette and collects rainwater. The roof channels that rainwater toward the pool.
How does the house stay cool without air conditioning?
Double slabs and generous eaves limit heat gain, so the interiors stay comfortable without air conditioning. The architects also combined materials so the house works without mechanical systems.
What material was the house built from?
The architects chose solid brick made from soil taken on the site, and nearly all the masonry is exposed brick. The brick is paired with wood and glass.
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