Metal House by Matheus Farah + Manoel Maia Arquitetura in Brazil

Project: Metal HouseArchitects: Matheus Farah + Manoel Maia ArquiteturaLocation: Porto Feliz, BrazilArea: 10,785 sq ftYear: 2020
Photography by: Leonardo Finotti

Metal House by Matheus Farah + Manoel Maia Arquitetura

Designed by Matheus Farah + Manoel Maia Arquitetura, the Metal House is a beautiful modern residence located in Porto Feliz, Brazil. This single-story home offers just under 11,000 square feet of luxurious living space.

Matheus Farah and Manoel Maia Arquitetura, along with Construtora Gaia, began their partnership in 2019 to develop innovative construction methods based on sustainability and efficiency. The idea was to reduce construction time and costs while minimizing material waste from traditional building practices. The first result of this initiative can be seen far from the city center at Fazenda Boa Vista, a vacation residence near São Paulo where the Metal House is located.

More than just a combination of prefabricated columns and beams, the method allows for constructing entire rooms with installations, frames, finishes, and coatings using wooden, cement, and steel components. This enables experimentation with various layouts by combining rooms according to the site characteristics and client requirements, ensuring uniqueness for each project.

Located in a setting defined by the natural landscape, the house establishes harmonious relationships with its surroundings so that it can be seen from both public and private areas without compromising privacy. To achieve this, the structure is shaped like an L, placing the layout in three blocks under a roof.

The blocks that form the building’s volumetric structure have been defined according to their primary functions. The first block includes work zones such as the kitchen, laundry room, and pantry. These are presented simply—except for the kitchen which opens into the dining area.

The second block houses relaxation zones for owners and guests; despite less privacy, it maintains intimacy and tranquility. The sauna, massage room, and hot tub area are connected through sliding panels that allow regulation of privacy levels and lighting.

Finally, the third block is dedicated to the most private area of the house, housing five bedrooms. The main bedroom has a private veranda, while the others open to the pool area.

Together, these three blocks are protected by a metal roof that ensures protection and serves as a connecting element in the layout—creating public and permanent zones between the blocks. These integrated spaces provide direct communication and flexibility among each other, maintaining connection with the surrounding landscape through glass panels and wooden sunscreens that add movement to the facade.

The large span includes living rooms and dining areas connected with a wide outdoor space separated by glass panels without any fixed walls. The veranda features a gastronomic zone on one side with a beautiful view; the other side opens to an internal garden where local Brazilian flora is planted (included in the landscape design). This space leads to a terrace with the pool and hot tubs, furnished with loungers and sofas creating a pleasant relaxation area.

The flexibility offered by this structural system allowed the completion of a fully ready-to-move-in home within 10 months after project approval, confirming the effectiveness of construction using modular industrial components.

–Matheus Farah + Manoel Maia Arquitetura