Designed by São Paulo-based firm Lajedo Arquitetura in collaboration with furniture designer Leon Ades, the Piaba House is a 180-square-meter dwelling completed in 2023. Located near the picturesque village of Igatu in Brazil's Chapada Diamantina, the project is a testament to the harmony between humanity and nature, blending contemporary architecture with the region's rich traditions and landscape.

The design process was a hands-on investigation, with the architects and Ades conducting research into the materiality of wood and traditional joinery techniques. They admired artisanal methods and were inspired by the local stonework and craftsmanship, a tradition that developed over generations of local building techniques. The resulting house is a thoughtful arrangement of elements that references Bahia's colonial architecture but adapts them for contemporary living and the unique environment.

The house is built into a slope, creating an open space that blurs the boundaries between the interior and the surrounding nature. It is entered through a modest entrance that leads to a sheltered courtyard, a reinterpretation of the traditional patio found in Brazilian and Mediterranean architecture. Large windows frame views of the natural surroundings, while the heavy stone walls evoke the feel of traditional colonial buildings. The construction was done with a combination of techniques, including a stone wall typical of Igatú, assembled by local artisans. The carpentry was created by the architects and Ades themselves, from prefabrication to assembly on the difficult-to-access site.

The design philosophy prioritizes a deep respect for the area's cultural and natural heritage, ensuring that the house feels like a natural and integrated part of the landscape rather than an imposition on it.

Credits

Architects: Luiz Paulo Bomeny and Alexandre Makhoul of Lajedo Arquitetura

Carpenter / Interiors: Leon Ades

Consultant: Guilherme Paoliello

Photography: Pedro Kok

Manufacturers: Alexandre Kissajikian, Casa Costillas, Casa na Árvore, Cultivado em casa, Gabriela Romagnolli, Imaterial Design, Infinity Persianas, Leon Ades, Marcenaria Nino, Mauício Davila, Paola Muller, Pau Pau, Piso de Pedra, T44, Telha Sanduíche-10