Estúdio Rossi Arquitetos has completed Casa Guaecá, a stunning 465-square-meter (5,005-square-foot) vacation home on the coast of São Paulo that masterfully blends contemporary design with emotional memory. The house, completed in 2024 in the São Sebastião neighborhood, sits on the former site of a small blue beach house and demonstrates how modern architecture can honor the past while embracing the future.
"Casa Guaecá was born from the desire to preserve the emotional memory of a modest blue house by the sea," explained architect Bruno Rossi, co-founder of Estúdio Rossi Arquitetos. "Our inspiration came from the place itself – its history, its landscape, its topography – and we intended to design a home that engages with the surroundings in a sensitive, respectful and contemporary way."
The architectural design responds intelligently to the site's steep slope by dividing the program into three distinct levels. Each level interacts with different portions of the property, strategically opening the interiors to the beach, garden, and forest. This thoughtful arrangement creates a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor spaces while maximizing the dramatic coastal setting.
The material palette pays homage to the original structure while embracing modern construction techniques. Referencing the blue tone of the previous beach house, the compact ground floor features exposed concrete. The upper levels showcase prefabricated, certified glued-laminated (glulam) eucalyptus timber, which enabled large spans and structural efficiency while enhancing the warmth and openness of the interiors.
"This enabled large spans and structural efficiency, while also enhancing the warmth and openness of the interiors," the studio noted. "Wooden brise-soleils provide sun protection, privacy and a dynamic, responsive facade." These movable sun-shading elements represent a vernacular approach to climate control that's both functional and aesthetically striking.
Inside, the natural warmth of the timber creates a beautiful contrast against white walls, thin-profile metal detailing, and neutral terrazzo floors. This material harmony is particularly evident in the airy, double-height living room, which features floor-to-ceiling windows that frame spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. The interior design emphasizes the connection between inhabitants and the natural environment.
Sustainability played a crucial role in the project's development. Beyond the prefabricated timber system and modular slabs that reduced on-site waste, the design prioritizes passive sustainable strategies. These include natural cross-ventilation achieved through carefully placed windows and doors, as well as the vernacular movable brise-soleils for effective solar shading throughout the day.
The project has been warmly received by the local community, which the architects view as validation of their approach. "The project was deeply rewarding in how it was embraced by local residents, who recognized it as a respectful and natural continuation of the region's built and natural environment," the studio explained. "This reaffirmed the value of listening closely to the site as a foundation for architectural design."
"Casa Guaecá is unique in the way it transforms memory into architecture," the studio concluded. "Through subtle references to a former structure, a restrained palette of materials and a light footprint on the land, it builds a deep, emotional connection between the house, its inhabitants and the landscape." The project represents a thoughtful approach to contemporary residential design that honors both place and memory while looking toward the future.
The project team included Bruno Rossi and Marilia Giordano Rossi leading a collaborative effort with Adriano Bueno, Natalia Bueno, João Pedro Tofano, Rafael Kenzo, Isabela Slywitch, Carolina Dantas, and Karine Oliveira. Specialized engineering support came from Gil Chinellato Engenharia Estrutural for concrete structure, ITA Engenharia em Madeira for glulam timber structure, and Inner Engenharia for steel structure. The photography was captured by André Scarpa for exteriors and Adriano Pacelli for interior shots.
