Dione House by STUDIO ANDRE LENZA: A Contemporary Cerrado Retreat Blending Nature, Light, and Local Materials

et within the warm and expansive landscape of the Brazilian cerrado, Dione House by STUDIO ANDRE LENZA emerges as a refined balance of contemporary architecture, local craftsmanship, and family-centered living. Located in the Cruzeiro do Sul condominium in Goiânia, this 640 m² residence is designed for a couple with three children who envisioned a home that opens generously to nature while maintaining the flexibility to secure and close the interior when needed.

A Home Elevated to Embrace the Landscape

The project began with a clear concept: “lifting” the house off the ground to dissolve boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. This architectural strategy creates full visual and spatial integration with the surrounding garden and pool area. The ground floor hosts all social activities, including the living room, dining area, kitchen, playroom, barbecue space, and garage. These spaces open seamlessly to the backyard, allowing the children to run freely and maintain constant connection with nature.

The upper floor, linked by a dramatic concrete walkway suspended over the central void, holds the intimate zone. On one side lie the three children's suites, and on the other, the master suite—carefully positioned for privacy while remaining visually connected to the rest of the home.

Rooted in Local Materiality

Built on a 908.28 m² plot with a 17-meter frontage, the residence pays homage to regional materials. The architects chose to incorporate Pirenópolis stone, a traditional element from the colonial town of Pirenópolis in Goiás. Used extensively in the outdoor areas, the stone forms an organic, fluid paving that surrounds the pool. These natural curves contrast elegantly with the home's contemporary concrete lines, striking a dialogue between heritage and modernity.

This stone materiality continues indoors, cladding select interior walls to create continuity between exterior and interior. The effect enhances thermal comfort, deepens the sense of coziness, and blurs the threshold between built space and the surrounding landscape.

A Living Environment Shaped by Light and Water

The position of the house—set slightly back from the pool—creates open movement space for the children while ensuring optimal solar exposure. Sunlight warms the pool water throughout the day, reinforcing passive environmental performance.

Designed in an L-shaped configuration, the residence shields itself from the street while fully embracing the inner courtyard. As sunlight shifts, the architecture produces changing atmospheres across the home. The wind-driven ripples on the pool cast shimmering reflections onto the high ceilings of the living room, generating a subtle kinetic effect that animates the interior in a soft, natural rhythm.

A Contemporary Family Sanctuary

Dione House stands as a harmonious fusion of architecture and environment—an elevated sanctuary where local materials, natural light, and thoughtful spatial organization shape a warm family home. STUDIO ANDRE LENZA creates not only a residence but an immersive living experience that celebrates Brazilian vernacular textures, contemporary design language, and the joy of everyday life connected to nature.

All photographs are works of  Edgard Cesar