Ibiúna House / Estúdio Penha

The Ibiuna country house, located 100km from the city of Sao Paulo, sits on a 17.000 m2 plot facing a large reservoir. The interiors had incredibly low ceilings due to the use of linings and the old structure was generally fragmented with little connection to the outdoors. Our design broadened the space and our main guideline was to take down the barriers between the inside and the outside. The choice of materials was significant for the desired concept. Because it is a country house, we opted for natural and rustic materials, such as stone, brick, and wood. We wanted a house that would connect to nature in a light and spontaneous fashion, without competing with the grand view to the reservoir and its green surroundings. The social area was expanded by relocating the kitchen and service areas, which allowed for a connection between an inside patio – which used to be isolated – and a veranda to the reservoir. The brick floor unites the inside and the outside, which are then limited by large sliding metal window frames from floor to ceiling. Everything designed to deconstruct the limits between interior and exterior and give the feeling of being one with the reservoir.