This Spectacular Home In Rio De Janeiro Has Mastered The Art Of Suspense

This beautiful house in Rio de Janeiro’s Costa Verde was designed by Tripper Arquitetura to celebrate the lush landscape surrounding the property, with the ultimate aim of maximising the incredible views while also connecting the house directly to its natural habitat.

Building the property on a dramatic 27-degree slope was a real challenge, which has been cleverly overcome by the Rio de Janeiro-based architecture firm. Tripper Arquitetura essentially carved the house directly into the hillside and has incorporated clever cantilevered levels, terraces and balconies to provide uninterrupted views of the surrounding greenery and beyond.

The house is actually only five minutes from the sea, yet it has a distinctly remote countryside feel. Painstaking efforts have been made to create a seamless connection between the home’s interior and its surroundings – floor-to-ceiling glazing has been used throughout the project, with movable slatted screens to help shade the internal spaces when necessary.

Skylights also bring natural light into the stairwells and bathroom suites, allowing the homeowners to enjoy looking up at the sky or treetops wherever they are in the home.

Wooden benches wrap around the five-metre cantilevered decked area to provide seating areas for contemplation and relaxation while looking out to the dramatic landscape beyond, plus it has created a sheltered area for the outdoor kitchen-dining zone that’s used for entertaining below.

Approaching the front of the property, the house actually seems like a relatively understated, single-storey home, which takes inspiration from the traditional Brazilian colonial houses with a generous porches.

The use of wood and stone externally is also brought into the interior of the home, adding warmth and texture to the otherwise neutral decor. The minimalist scheme and clean lines ensure that the eye is drawn to the spectacular views outside and that the rooms feel spacious and airy.

Four generous suites claim the top floor of the home, while the open-plan living space occupies the main middle floor with huge-glazed doors that can be opened up to link the interiors to the decked terrace. There’s also a games room complete with home cinema tucked away from the main rooms to ensure peace and quiet for the rest of the house.

See Tripper Arquitetura’s other residential projects here.

About the author

Charlotte Luxford

Architecture & Design Editor

As Culture Trip's architecture and design expert, Charlotte has more than 12 years' industry experience, working for an array of national publications. Prior to joining Culture Trip, Charlotte was the editor of Grand Designs Magazine, steering the magazine in a new direction and overseeing a new look for the title. She has also worked for mass media organisation TI Media, providing content for Livingetc, Ideal Home, Country Homes & Interiors and Homes & Gardens. Charlotte has always had a passion for design and is also a qualified interior designer, having completed a diploma in her spare time. At Culture Trip, Charlotte has worked closely with institutions including the Design Museum and London Design Festival, as well as interviewing design heroes such as Thomas Heatherwick and Sir Terence Conran.