Casa Açucena
Casa Açucena
(Nova Lima, Brazil)
Designed by Tetro Arquitetura
I always dreamed of having a treehouse as a child. It represented freedom and I loved the idea of falling asleep among the treeline, surrounded by an ocean of gently swaying green. There is something so appealing to me about being surrounded by nature on all sides, yet still feeling perfectly safe and protected.
The primary concern behind the design of Casa Açucena (Lily House) by Tetro Arquitetura was to maintain the natural environment in which the home was built. Located in Nova Lima, Brazil, the lily-shaped home was built around the existing trees, none of which were cut down or moved during construction. Indeed the architects explain that the building “shapes itself by occupying the empty spaces between the trees”, thus existing in harmony with the environment.
The white angular design is elevated on black stilts some fifteen meters in the air, compensating for the steep slope on which the home is located. This elevation provides a beautiful view of the trees on all sides, but the home was also designed so that you could look up and see the sky through the trees. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and a number of skylights allow for uninterrupted views of lush greenery and the sky above. The views from the bathroom and bedroom in particular look like a dream to me.
I enjoy the contrast of the white blocky concrete nestled amongst such beautiful nature. While I tend to think of a treehouse as a continuation of a tree, Casa Açucena is a home that sits within nature without being of nature. The interior design is not something I would necessarily go for, but to be honest, for me it is all about the view. I could sleep among the trees like I have always wanted, and I would also finally get to sit on the toilet while admiring nature, which is an idea that will be familiar to you if you have ever read Junichiro Tanazaki’s In Praise of Shadows.
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