In the heart of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, Cornetta Arquitetura has created a stunning project named Casa Guapuruvu—a flawless example of sustainable villa design. This prefabricated concrete-and-timber villa is located near São Roque (west of São Paulo) and has been designed with the explicit goal of minimising disruption to the natural ecosystem. The architects deliberately sited the villa on a portion of the land where the vegetation had already been damaged, and elevated the building on tall stilts to avoid disturbing the wildlife and forest soil. This approach has produced not only a luxurious holiday retreat but, as studio founder Pedro Cornetta puts it, a “real lesson in environmental conservation”—not merely planting trees for photographs, but genuinely preserving what already exists.
The villa’s structure is rectangular and modular, precisely divided into two halves by a central axis: the public half features living spaces that open completely to the outdoors via sliding glass panels, forming a large covered terrace; while the private half includes two large square bedrooms at the corners, two smaller rooms with built-in beds, and bathrooms positioned between them. The polished concrete floor and warm timber ceiling, combined with furniture crafted from reclaimed peroba rosa wood, vegetable-tanned leather, and stainless steel, evoke the feel of a “contemporary cabin” that redefines the relationship between architecture, landscape, and sustainability.
The materials selected for this sustainable villa design have been chosen with remarkable intelligence: glued laminated timber with nailed connections for the primary structure, black metal columns, lightweight steel-framed walls, and the Japanese shou sugi ban technique—charred pine—to conceal the dividing wall. The swimming pool is positioned at the western end between retaining walls, creating a seamless vista into the forest. Landscape designer Nick Sabi planted only native species in previously disturbed areas, ensuring no further harm to the ecosystem.
During the day, the dense vegetation softens the villa’s presence, but at night, with the wooden ceiling illuminated, the building transforms into a glowing volume amid the trees, highlighting architecture’s role in dialogue with its environment. This prefabricated approach has not only reduced construction time but also minimised the carbon footprint and lessened the need for artificial heating and cooling systems.
Casa Guapuruvu demonstrates that sustainable villa design can be simultaneously beautiful, functional, and responsible—an outstanding source of inspiration for Iranian architects facing environmental challenges. Imagine applying these principles to villas in northern Iran or desert regions: seamless integration with nature, the use of local and reclaimed materials, and a genuine focus on preserving the environment. This project proves that sustainability is not a limitation, but an opportunity for boundless creativity.