Itanhangá House by be.bo arquitetos – A Nature-Integrated Contemporary Home in Rio de Janeiro

A Minimalist, Nature-Focused Residence in Itanhangá, Brazil

The Itanhangá House by be.bo arquitetos is a 310 m² contemporary residence designed in 2024 for a couple seeking a life closer to nature in Rio de Janeiro’s lush Itanhangá neighborhood. After living on the site for many years, the clients envisioned a home that aligned with a simpler, more practical lifestyle — open, airy, timeless, and deeply connected to the landscape.

This architectural project transforms those desires into a linear, garden-oriented house that prioritizes natural light, outdoor living, and material authenticity.

Concept and Design Vision

The project originated from a shared dream: a minimalist and functional home with a strong visual and spatial relationship to the surrounding greenery. The architects positioned the linear volume along the site’s longitudinal boundary, enabling a green pathway entrance and maximizing the garden area. Almost all existing trees were preserved, reinforcing the home’s organic integration into the landscape.

Service access and parking are positioned at the front of the site, while private spaces extend toward the back. At the intersection of these zones, an open dining room sits at the heart of the home — a transitional space that fulfills the client's wish to enjoy meals outdoors.

One of the project’s most surprising features is the perfectly framed view of Pedra da Gávea, captured through the house’s strategic orientation and becoming a daily delight for the residents.

Material Strategy and Warm Minimalism

A key early design intent was creating a “green,” welcoming home using CLT (Cross Laminated Timber), allowing structure and finish to merge into one natural expression. The façade was initially planned with the Japanese shou sugi ban technique for durability and weather protection.

However, concerns about long-term maintenance shifted the project toward a more traditional construction method — while preserving the same aesthetic goals.

Final Material Choices:

• Concrete slats crafted to resemble charred wood, maintaining the original shou sugi ban appearance.
• Marine plywood panels in warm pine used on interior walls to create a cozy ambiance.
• Soft green color palettes for the children’s rooms.
• Client-curated furniture and accessories, adding personality and balance to the neutral architectural envelope.

Light, Landscape, and Indoor–Outdoor Living

Natural light is a fundamental design element. Every space receives abundant daylight through generous openings, skylights, and thoughtful orientation. The architecture encourages constant interaction with nature through:

• Outdoor decks connected to each room
• Skylights in the dining room and bathrooms, bringing in direct sunlight and sky views
• Floor-to-ceiling glazing that maintains visual continuity with the gardens

A long linear circulation space organizes the home’s interior flow, punctuated rhythmically by alternating glass panels and vertical structural elements. A continuous bench runs alongside this corridor, visually anchoring the movement through the home.

Architecture That Celebrates Simplicity and Landscape

The Itanhangá House embodies a contemporary Brazilian approach to residential design — where simplicity, natural materials, and outdoor living shape an authentic and serene lifestyle. The home’s linear design, strong landscape integration, and crafted material palette create a timeless refuge deeply connected to its Rio de Janeiro setting.

All photographs are works of Leonardo Costa