A groundbreaking residential project in Brasília, Brazil, demonstrates how traditional construction methods can be seamlessly integrated with modern architectural design. The Taipa Residence, designed by Studio [+] Valéria Gontijo, represents a bold exploration of vernacular building techniques applied to contemporary living spaces, creating a 620-square-meter home that serves as both a functional retreat and an architectural manifesto.
Located on a sloped plot in Lago Sul with privileged views of Lake Paranoá, the single-story residence was commissioned by a couple seeking a compact, functional home deeply connected to the surrounding landscape. The L-shaped house design respects the scale of its natural surroundings while treating materiality as a central experiential element. The project stands as the first of four planned residences for a family compound on the same estate, establishing a new paradigm for conscious and sensitive living that is distinctly Brazilian in character.
The defining characteristic of this architectural achievement lies in its construction technique: rammed earth, known locally as "taipa." This ancient and vernacular method utilizes raw earth compacted into wooden molds, harnessing soil directly from the construction site. Beyond its inherent sustainability benefits, the technique offers exceptional thermal and acoustic performance, creating a naturally comfortable interior environment. "We were drawn to taipa precisely because it escapes the usual codes of concrete and stone," explains architect Valéria Gontijo. "We wanted something more experimental, yet still built with pure forms."
The residence features a thoughtfully integrated program designed to encourage togetherness and social interaction. The compact layout includes just two suites, a living room seamlessly connected to a gourmet cooking area, a kitchen, laundry facilities, a covered veranda, a two-car garage, and a swimming pool. Every space was conceived with lower ceilings and a warm atmosphere, creating what the architects describe as "a shelter made of earth, wood, and natural light." The materials palette was carefully curated to provide tactile richness, incorporating rustic granite flooring, reclaimed wood elements, biribinha latticework, and interior décor that bridges rusticity with contemporary comfort through subtle design gestures.
The gourmet space, fully integrated into the main social area, reflects the clients' passion for cooking and entertaining. Rather than creating separation, the design philosophy emphasizes connection and gathering. As Gontijo elaborates, "This house is about receiving, about celebrating. Everything here is sensorial. You feel the texture of the walls, the muffled sound inside, the soft light filtering through—it's a house that embraces you." This sensorial approach extends throughout the entire residence, where inhabitants and visitors experience the building through multiple senses rather than just visual appreciation.
The construction process involved collaboration between contemporary architectural expertise and traditional building knowledge. The taipa technique was executed by local craftsmen with technical guidance from the client, who was personally involved in the construction process. The initial prototype was developed through extensive research conducted with specialists in São Paulo, while the actual construction was carried out in Brasília by professionals experienced in alternative building techniques similar to those traditionally used in the nearby Chapada dos Veadeiros region.
The project's broader significance extends beyond its individual architectural merits. The Taipa Residence inaugurates a series of homes defined by originality, simplicity, and a profound sense of permanence within the natural environment. By successfully merging centuries-old building techniques with contemporary design principles and precise curation of materials and spatial uses, the project proposes an innovative approach to modern habitation that is environmentally conscious, culturally sensitive, and authentically Brazilian in its expression of place and craft.
