A typical fisherman’s house emerges as the primary architectural element of a private dwelling in one of the most well-known holiday destinations near Paraty, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The project is in touch with the clients’ sensibilities; people who are interested in the efficiency of a solution but who are open to an unusual and creative way of occupying space.
The structure of the dwelling can be described as a “matchbox”, which supports the fisherman’s house on the second floor. The house faces the street on one side and a marina on the other. Two closed volumes on the ground floor support an 18 meter span over the living room, enabling it to open to both the street and marina.
The upper floor houses the unique element: the fisherman’s house.
The owner, who was interested in participating in the construction process and is attracted by woodworking, accepted the idea of the project: to deconstruct an existing fisherman’s house and reassemble it on site. This generates the identity of the beach house.
The existing house was found in Paraná, in the south of Brazil, and once demolished its timber was brought to the site and reassembled. The client was personally involved in choosing the timber and in doing so helped establish the architectural character of the design.
The house has a relaxed environment, a character that reflects the history and context of the region and enables a particular mode of occupation, achieved by using the fisherman’s house, an element long forgotten in the landscape.
- “cobogó” is a cement or ceramic block with openings allowing ventilation, giving privacy and filtering direct solar radiation. They are extremely versatile and can be of various forms. The “cobogo”, a Brazilian invention of the 20’s in state of Pernambuco, became very popular in the 50’s.
