Ankh House TAU Arquitetos: A House of Life in the Brazilian Countryside

The Ankh House TAU Arquitetos, designed in collaboration with Studio Zanskar, is a contemporary residence inspired by the Egyptian concept per ankh, meaning “house of life.” Located in Bragança Paulista, in the countryside of São Paulo, the project embodies a deep connection between body, environment, and everyday living. Set against a mountainous landscape and designed to follow the site’s natural slope, the 455 m² residence merges architecture, nature, and daily rituals into a harmonious whole.

Concept and Architectural Layout

The design of the Ankh House TAU Arquitetos is organized around four independent modules that converge around a central courtyard. This courtyard serves as both a social heart and a thermal regulator, encouraging introspection and interaction. The main social volume, which includes living, dining, and kitchen areas, opens to the west, framing views of the surrounding hills. A dramatic concrete cantilever shades the interiors from the afternoon sun while extending the architectural expression outward.

Integrated into this central module is the private master suite, complete with bathroom and walk-in closet, offering both comfort and seclusion. Other modules house the daughter’s mezzanine-style bedroom, a creative studio, and a service wing with garage and utilities. Together, these volumes create a functional yet fluid residential environment that reflects the rhythms of family life.

Courtyard as the Heart of the House

At the core of the Ankh House TAU Arquitetos lies the courtyard, a symbolic and functional “house of life.” It connects the volumes visually and spatially while serving as a natural ventilation system. This open space promotes balance between built form and open air, reinforcing the house’s dialogue with its rural setting.

Materiality and Timeless Aesthetics

The architecture of the Ankh House TAU Arquitetos emphasizes solidity, permanence, and low maintenance. Flat exposed concrete slabs create a durable structural framework, while cantilevered roofs regulate solar incidence. Natural materials, sourced locally, give the residence a timeless presence. The earth from the site itself was used as wall finishes, ensuring both sustainability and authenticity.

Stone plays a central role throughout the project—appearing as cladding, paving, and retaining walls—anchoring the house into the terrain while reinforcing its sense of permanence. These materials echo the rugged beauty of the mountainous backdrop, blending architecture with landscape seamlessly.

Landscape Design and Living with Nature

The surrounding landscape was designed as an extension of the house, with careful zoning to accommodate diverse microclimates. The upper terrain references the Brazilian cerrado, filled with native, low-maintenance vegetation. Closer to the kitchen, edible gardens, aromatic herbs, and orchards encourage sustainable living by integrating cultivation into daily routines. The thoughtful landscaping transforms the residence into a living ecosystem, reinforcing the holistic vision behind its design.

A Balanced Approach to Life and Architecture

The Ankh House TAU Arquitetos is more than a dwelling—it is a manifesto of life. By balancing people, materials, and landscape, it establishes a sensitive relationship between architecture and environment. The house does not dominate its site but rather grows from it, creating a sense of permanence, continuity, and belonging.

With its modular design, material authenticity, and landscape integration, the Ankh House TAU Arquitetos exemplifies a contemporary reinterpretation of the “house of life.” It stands as a profound architectural response that unites tradition, modernity, and the natural world in a single expression of dwelling.

All Photographs are works of  Lela Leme