Villa into Village

By Michael Webb - 1 October 2024

Over the past 45 years, Studio MK27 has created a succession of linear villas around its home base of São Paulo and as far afield as a Canadian ski resort (THE PLAN 149), along with furniture, a five-star hotel and a resort in the Maldives. The Village house is a departure from anything they have done before. Located in Fazenda Boa Vista, a gated community, 180 km north-west of São Paulo, it is a weekend retreat for a family with three children. They asked for a Tuscan villa. Marcio Kogan and Lair Reis of Studio MK27 exploded that concept, creating a checkerboard of eight stone-clad rooms spaced out on a concrete platform 40 meters square and supporting a poured concrete canopy 2.75-m high.

Residenza “Village” - ©Fernando Guerra, courtesy studio mk27

A brick path links the house to the garage and guest parking. There is no formal entry. Instead, you step into a network of shaded streets and choose which room to enter. Brazilian grape trees (Jabuticaba) penetrate openings in the canopy, casting shadows over the polished concrete and alfresco sitting/dining areas. Every turn opens up a fresh vista of lush plantings. Birds fly in and out and you feel constantly in touch with nature. Expansive windows are screened with pocketing wood grids for privacy and to shade from direct sun, much like the mashrabiya of the Islamic world that the Spanish brought to South America. There is a high level of sustainability. The walls of concrete and locally sourced Moledo stone are 45-cm thick and air-conditioning is rarely required.
A wine cellar is sunk a meter deep for additional insulation.
Photo-voltaic panels on the roof generate electricity and heat the water.

The exterior of the house has a rugged, timeless character, animated by the constantly shifting play of light and shadow. Skeletal branches and richly textured stone are thrown into relief. Living areas and a shaded dining terrace are on the far side from the entry patio, so visitors traverse the entire complex, passing the bedrooms, gym and library to meet their hosts. The owners love to entertain, so the streets are sometimes thronged with guests and children scampering off to the pool.

Residenza “Village” - ©Fernando Guerra, courtesy studio mk27

In contrast, the interiors designed by Studio MK27’s Diana Radomysler and Luisa Vicentini, are havens of elegance and serenity. They have used Freijo – a variety of teak – to line the walls and soffits in most of the concrete enclosures, bringing a warmth and tactility to the living and sleeping spaces. Contemporary Brazilian designers are well represented in the selection of comfortable, generously proportioned seating, which makes good use of native woods and leather. Back lighting dramatizes the wall shelves in the library and the wine racks in the cellar. Cone shaped lighting pendants of wool by Inês Schertel are suspended above a long wood dining table, while area rugs are scattered on the concrete floor.

“Village” House - ©Fernando Guerra, courtesy of studio mk27

“Village” House - ©Fernando Guerra, courtesy of studio mk27 | A large sand-colored woven rug defines the borders of the large living room, inviting guests to relax on the soft couches and cozy armchairs arranged around a coffee table made of natural wood beams.

“Village” House - ©Fernando Guerra, courtesy of studio mk27 | The kitchen, enveloped in surfaces completely clad in Freijo teak wood, is a warm and intimate space. Moments of conviviality can be shared while seated around an island that appears to be sculpted from a single large stone block.

“Village” House - ©Fernando Guerra, courtesy of studio mk27 | In the master suite, a wooden block separates the sleeping area, increasing privacy. The large bed is the protagonist of the space and faces the surrounding landscape. All eight rooms have an ensuite bathroom, which is understated and entirely clad in wood.

“Village” House - ©Fernando Guerra, courtesy of studio mk27 | The library is characterized by full-height wooden bookshelves formed by rectangular modules lining the walls. Comfortable seating and a fireplace make the living room the ideal place to read a good book.

Location: Porto Feliz, Brazil
Completion: 2022
Gross Floor Area: 2,386 m²
Architect and Interior Designer:Studio mk27
Main Contractor: All’e Engenharia
Landscape Consultant: Maria João d'Orey

Photography: Fernando Guerra, courtesy of Studio mk27

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