Jabuticabeiras House | Studio Andre Lenza

Set in the east Goiânia, Central Brazil,  the Jabuticabeiras House 361,63m² was born from a couple's desire to optimize their lifestyle. After their children moved out, their old residence became oversized. The choice of the new lot, 650m2,  located in the same neighborhood where their children and grand childern live, was strategic: the main objective was proximity to their grandchildren and strengthening family ties in this new stage of life.

With the arrival of their golden years, the priority was to design a compact and highly functional residence without sacrificing a generous social area. The architectural program prioritizes gathering, featuring only two suites—a master suite for the couple and a modular one for the grandchildren's rest.

The orchard with the jabuticaba trees was a key element to further enhance the home's social area. In addition to providing shade, well-being, and fruit throughout the year, they give the house its name, which is as welcoming as the shade of the trees on a hot, sunny day. Thus, the starting point came from nature and family integration, highlighting the natural light that floods and bathes every room. At dawn, the sunlight projects the geometry of the muxarabis (wooden latticework) onto the lawn, creating a dynamic play of light and shadow that transforms daily with the movement of the sun.

The heart of the project is the spacious gourmet veranda, which integrates seamlessly with the living and home theater rooms. This entire social wing embraces the leisure area, offering a panoramic view of the surroundings and a full view of the pool.

The layout explores the lot's connectivity through multiple access points. In addition to the two side entrances on the main facade, the project creates a strategic rear access, connected directly to the public sidewalk and the existing bike path. This is how the grandchildren arrive freely on their bicycles for the traditional afternoon cake at "grandma's house."

On the front facade, we envisioned an imposing, horizontal rectangular "frame" made of exposed concrete. This volume is filled with aluminum muxarabi panels with a wood finish—an element that allows the wind to flow freely while bringing more privacy to the residents. Cross-ventilation is one of the pillars of the home's thermal comfort. Through large sliding doors that open completely during the day, air is renewed throughout the entire length of the house, passively reducing the internal temperature.

At first glance, the house appears to be a single-story home due to its horizontality, but the basement is partially visible from a pedestrian's point of view. This lower level houses a spacious garage and two generous storage rooms: one dedicated to organizing the owner's fishing gear and another for the home's logistical support. Access to the ground floor is via stairs or an elevator, ensuring accessibility for all users.

Functionality guided the decisions for the home's interior layout. In the service area, at the residents' request, the front-loading washing machine was installed on a raised platform, allowing it to be opened and operated at hand level to avoid lower back strain in daily life. Details like this guided the entire development of the project.