Rio house / bracamonteyerba

The project is sited on an irregularly shaped plot, presenting a unique set of spatial challenges and design opportunities from the very beginning of the creative process. Rather than wiping the slate completely clean, the architectural team chose to work around a notable remnant of the property’s past: a pre-existing swimming pool. This body of water became the only remaining trace preserved after the demolition of a former dwelling on the land, serving as a historical anchor and a physical focal point around which the new domestic layout was carefully orchestrated.

Working with an irregular footprint requires a high degree of spatial agility, and bracamonteyerba utilized the swimming pool’s fixed geometry to ground the new structure. By retaining this single surviving feature, the architects established a dialogue between the site’s previous incarnation and its contemporary iteration. The pool acts as an organizing axis, dictating the flow of movement, sightlines, and the spatial relationship between the interior living areas and the surrounding outdoor environment.

The design of the Rio House reflects a careful balancing act between privacy, openness, and contextual integration. The irregular boundaries of the plot forced the architectural team to abandon conventional rectangular layouts in favor of dynamic, flowing floor plans that adapt to the pinching and widening of the site perimeter. This geometric flexibility allows the residence to maximize natural light and ventilation while creating protected outdoor pockets and expansive gathering spaces oriented toward the preserved pool.

Inside, the material palette and spatial arrangement emphasize a seamless connection with the exterior. Large expanses of glass frame views of the water and the surrounding landscaping, blurring the boundary between indoor and outdoor living. The integration of natural wood, sleek countertops, and minimalist structural elements creates a warm yet contemporary atmosphere, prioritizing comfort and understated elegance. Every room has been positioned to take full advantage of the unique site geometry, ensuring that even unconventional corners of the house are utilized effectively as functional or contemplative spaces.

The completion of the Rio House adds to bracamonteyerba’s growing portfolio of residential designs that respond sensitively to their immediate physical contexts. By embracing the constraints and eccentricities of an irregular plot—and honoring the solitary memory of a demolished predecessor—the architectural firm has delivered a home that feels both deeply rooted in its location and thoroughly modern in its execution. Fernando Schapochnik’s exterior and interior photography highlights the interplay of light, shadow, and water that defines the daily experience of the residence, capturing a tranquil domestic sanctuary shaped by history and inventive site planning.