Angra House, by Arthur Casas: Architecture that gently surrenders to the beauty of the landscape

On the coast of Angra dos Reis, near Rio de Janeiro, where Atlantic vegetation plunges into the ocean and the rocks are caressed by the waves, Arthur Casas has renovated a discreet house fully aware of its privileged setting. It is an architecture that breathes with its surroundings, blending with the elements and calmly surrendering to the landscape’s beauty.

Angra House is a sensitive renovation of a holiday residence originally designed by Fernando Peixoto, now adapted to the needs of a family—a couple with two children—accustomed to the interiors designed by the same studio and seeking to extend their domestic experience into a natural setting, without giving up comfort, privacy or the joy of being together.

From the outset, Casas had a clear goal: to preserve the essence of the original volume while opening it to the landscape and the distant view of Ilha Grande. Where the eye could not reach, skylights, indoor gardens, green patios and living materials were introduced. The result is an immersive experience that unfolds across five staggered levels, minimizing impact on the terrain and multiplying the views and circulation paths.

The main entrance is not by land, but by sea. From the dock, a winding path meanders through native species carefully selected by Ricardo Cardim’s landscape architecture studio, extending the forest into the heart of the house. This integration is a constant: vegetation becomes architecture, and architecture becomes a livable landscape.

On the entry level, the pool, gourmet space, wine cellar and guest suites define an open-plan layout designed for gathering. Half a level below, well-being takes shape in the gym, games room, sauna and massage area. In the basement, a professional cinema carved into the rock combines advanced technology, acoustics and structural ingenuity beside the sea.

The upper floors are dedicated to family life, unfolding between the private and the social: living rooms that open onto outdoor terraces, an alfresco dining area, a kitchen connected to the landscape, a master suite with a tranquil workspace, children’s bedrooms, the service area and an upper entrance from the shared zone where the garage is located. Every detail is designed to flow, connect and be lived in without hierarchy.

The material palette pays tribute to the site: local stone in varying sizes and tones that echoes the rocky slope; Accoya wood used for façades, roofs and mashrabiya-style lattice screens that filter light and preserve privacy; and traditional ceramic tiles that blend into the scenery. Inside, a language of noble textures, wood, ceramic and raffia, is combined with Brazilian craftsmanship, such as Mestre Nicola’s Cabeça de Apóstolo, and a curated selection of national and international design pieces.

Among them are sofas by Paola Lenti, chairs by B&B Italia, tables by Lucas Recchia, armchairs by Lattoog and the iconic Zeca by Jorge Zalszupin. Also present are pieces designed by Casas himself: the Apache table, Ayahuascasideboard, Vieira Souto coffee tables, and Quilombo and Lurdes desks.

At its core, Angra House is a love letter to the Brazilian landscape, an architecture that doesn’t need to boast to be unforgettable. Like a whisper through the leaves, like a light filtering through the latticework, this house confirms what Arthur Casas has long been building: spaces where beauty is also a way of caring.

Project: Angra House.
Location: Angra dos Reis. Río de Janeiro.
Author: Arthur Casas.
Architecture & Interior Design Lead: Nara Telles.
Decoration Lead: Fabíola Andrade.
Decoration Coordinator: Ligia Damin.
Collaborators: João Lisboa, Manoela Vilaça, Diogo Mondini, Milena Chieco, Joyce Santos.
3D Visualization: Ana Maria Pedreschi, Augusto Mattos, Amanda Tamburus, Valentina Lindner.
Construction: Laer Engenharia.
Consultants: Maneco Quinderé (lighting design), Ricardo Cardim (landscape design), Zamaro (electrical and plumbing), Logiproject (climate control), Abilitá (structure), X-tron (home automation).
Suppliers: Marvelar (woodwork), Eurocentro (metalwork), Kitchens (custom furniture), Guandu (marble), Uniflex Ipanema (blinds), Core (wood).
Completion: 2024
Site Area: 1800 m²
Built Area: 700 m²
Photography: Fran Parente.

Arthur Casas

Since his early works in São Paulo, Arthur Casas has masterfully combined method and sensuality, modern gestures and natural warmth. His architecture, horizontal, fluid and unpretentious, acts as a bridge between reason and desire, between contemporary living and an intimate relationship with the environment. Casas belongs to that lineage of Latin American architects who engage in a dialogue with modernity without renouncing materiality or climate, and who design with both people and the landscape in mind. See biography.

Fuente: Studio Arthur Casas.

Project by Arthur Casas