Gralhas House by OSPA Arquitetura e Urbanismo

Completed in 2024 in the serene neighborhood of Santa Terezinha, Canela (Rio Grande do Sul), Gralhas House is a 300 m² contemporary residence designed as a weekend retreat for a couple and their children. Conceived by OSPA Arquitetura e Urbanismo, the project balances rustic materiality, spatial fluidity, and a deep connection to nature, offering a refined example of Brazilian residential architecture integrated with landscape.

A Contemporary Weekend House in Southern Brazil

Set within a gently sloping site surrounded by lush vegetation, Gralhas House was designed to foster family gatherings while maintaining privacy and visual continuity with the outdoors. The architectural concept is defined by three longitudinal exposed brick planes that organize the house into two distinct zones:

• A more enclosed service and support area
• A transparent living zone oriented toward the gardens

This linear composition establishes strong spatial clarity while framing longitudinal views across the property. Transparent façades at both ends of the living spaces dissolve boundaries between interior and exterior, enhancing cross-ventilation and natural light.

Double-Height Living Space as Social Core

At the heart of the house lies a double-height living room, the project’s primary social nucleus. The vertical volume accentuates the sloped roof geometry, creating a dynamic interior silhouette that feels both expansive and intimate.

Spherical pendant lights emphasize verticality, while a lightweight metal staircase connects the ground and upper floors without obstructing sightlines. The open-plan kitchen seamlessly integrates with the living area and includes a barbecue, pizza oven, and draft beer system, reflecting Brazilian traditions of hospitality and communal dining.

This configuration reinforces the house’s identity as a gathering place where architecture supports shared experiences.

Private Retreats with Garden Views

On the ground floor, a private suite for the couple ensures convenience, accessibility, and direct views of the patio. Positioned toward the rear of the house, it maintains privacy while remaining connected to outdoor areas.

The upper level accommodates two additional suites, each with its own balcony, one facing the front landscape and the other overlooking the backyard garden. This arrangement strengthens the visual dialogue with nature on both levels, creating a continuous relationship between bedrooms and surrounding greenery.

Throughout the residence, long sightlines extend toward open spaces, reinforcing spatial permeability and environmental integration.

Material Contrast: Rustic Brick and Industrial Steel

Materiality plays a defining role in Gralhas House. Exposed brick walls anchor the building in regional architectural tradition, evoking warmth and permanence. In contrast, industrial metal window frames and structural elements introduce a contemporary language.

This interplay between rustic and industrial creates a timeless aesthetic, avoiding fleeting design trends while remaining grounded in the present. Large glass panels maximize daylight penetration and invite the landscape indoors, blurring the threshold between architecture and garden.

Landscape Integration and Site Sensitivity

The site plan carefully respects the natural slope of the terrain. Existing trees were preserved, and the house was positioned to create a harmonious transition between built form and landscape. Decks, patios, and garden edges mediate this relationship, enhancing outdoor living and strengthening the home’s connection to its bucolic setting.

By integrating architecture with topography and vegetation, OSPA Arquitetura e Urbanismo demonstrates a sensitive approach to residential design in Brazil’s southern climate. 

A Model for Contemporary Brazilian Residential Architecture

Gralhas House embodies a balanced architectural approach: combining exposed brick façades, open-plan interiors, sustainable site planning, and strong indoor-outdoor connections. The project exemplifies how contemporary houses in Brazil can merge functionality, material authenticity, and landscape integration.

As a weekend retreat rooted in family life and natural surroundings, Gralhas House offers a compelling vision of modern Brazilian home design: where comfort, memory, and spatial openness coexist in harmony.

All the photographs are works of  Gabriel Konrath