Haras VM Dressage Stables: Functional Elegance in Equestrian Architecture

Located in Porto Feliz, Brazil, Haras VM Dressage Stables, designed by Per Cavalli Arquitetura, is a state-of-the-art equestrian facility that seamlessly blends functionality, safety, and aesthetic appeal. Completed in 2023, this 2,500 m² project caters to a young couple of professional dressage riders, balancing the daily demands of horse care, client visits, and equestrian training in a thoughtfully designed environment.

Innovative “O”-Shaped Layout for Optimal Flow

The architects adopted an “O”-shaped layout, efficiently accommodating 30 spacious 4m x 4m stalls, a veterinary area, showers, saddle rooms, reception spaces, dryers, changing rooms, feed and hay storage, and two residential flats. This circular configuration fosters a welcoming courtyard atmosphere enhanced by a central fountain and lush landscaping. The design not only softens the microclimate but also integrates nature into the daily life of both horses and humans.

Natural Light and Ventilation

Daylight floods the stables through strategically placed windows in all stalls, providing expansive views of the surrounding landscape from the highest point on the property. The open design ensures unobstructed airflow between stalls, creating a ventilated, comfortable environment. For evening activities, lighting combines technical precision with scenic elegance, featuring pendant lights per stall, sconces on pillars, and floor-level illumination throughout the landscaped courtyard.

Materiality and Identity

The stables showcase a striking combination of wood, exposed brick, and iron, with large gates branded with the stable’s logo. This cohesive visual identity extends across all structures on the property, from the main residence to the training tracks. Wide covered corridors offer secure, sheltered circulation, even during inclement weather, connecting all functional areas efficiently.

Veterinary and Training Facilities

Near the main entrance, the fully equipped veterinary area supports all stabled animals with a handling area, containment trunk, and an aquatic treadmill. Rubber flooring in these zones, as well as in external showers and preparation spaces, ensures safety for horses and handlers while reducing stress on the animals’ hooves.

Arena and Event Spaces

The covered arena, designed for both training and events, is supported by an adjoining gourmet area capable of hosting auctions, small competitions, and social gatherings. From the front balcony, the expansive views over open slopes and one of the property’s lakes create a serene backdrop, combining leisure, training, and functional equestrian design.

Haras VM Dressage Stables stands as a benchmark for modern equestrian architecture, demonstrating how practical design, natural integration, and thoughtful material choices can enhance both horse welfare and human experience.

All photographs are works of Cacá Bratke