Passive House by Mareines Arquitetura: Self-Sufficient Cottage in Brazilian Rural Areas

Built during the pandemic, this passive house by Mareines Arquitetura is an ambitious expression of nature-based, self-sufficient lifestyle. Located in a dense forest in the interior of São Paulo state, the house combines high energy standards with an abundance of greenery and architectural tranquility. The result is a home that disappears into the forest environment while consuming almost zero energy.

This is not just a sustainable home—it's a manifesto for a slower and more mindful life.

Context and Vision: Landscape Restoration, Returning to Simplicity

Mareines Arquitetura and Vistara Landscape Architecture collaborated to restore the original site, planting local species of plants to restore ecological diversity. The design does not aim for dramatic sculptural statements but integrates smoothly into the landscape—so much so that from a distance, the house almost blends in with the trees.

The idea emerged during quarantine when architects and clients sought refuge from urban hustle. The goal was simple: live easily, live well. The passive house is an architectural realization of this idea.

Principles of Passive House in the Brazilian Climate

Although the passive house standard originated in cold climates, Mareines adapts it for Brazil's internal conditions with a climate-sensitive approach:

• Compact form and orientation, to reduce unwanted solar heat gain while capturing cool breezes.

• Super insulation and thermal breaks, to maintain thermal stability.

• High-performance glazing and shell airtightness, to minimize heat loss and maximize air tightness.

• Balanced mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, to provide fresh air without energy loss.

• Landscape shading and tree relocation, to mitigate microclimate extremes and reduce solar impact.

In short: every detail of the house is integrated into its energy strategy.

Spatial Organization and Zoning

The passive house is arranged on three main volumes, with the interior layout responding to microclimate conditions and programmatic needs:

• Private area: bedrooms and quieter rooms are placed outside the sun-exposed zones.

• Common core: living room, dining area and kitchen are located with an open view of gardens and terraces, controlled lighting and awnings.

• Service and auxiliary zones: garages, utilities and storage are embedded in the building mass, hidden from view but functionally accessible.

Each zone is isolated from others, allowing independent control and optimization, so the house can adapt to varying occupancy or seasonal use.

Materials, Expression and Warmth

Mareines uses a restrained palette: exposed concrete, brick, wood and abundant glazing. These materials are not decorative accents—they are part of the sustainable logic:

• Concrete and brick provide thermal mass, storing coolness or warmth and smoothing internal fluctuations.

• Wooden accents soften the exterior appearance, connecting interior to forest outside.

• Glass surfaces are optimized with deep shading, low-emissivity coatings and precise framing to control light and climate.

Inside, beams and structural elements remain visible—not hidden—they are valued rather than masked. The house is honest but not ornate.

Continuity Between Interior and Exterior Spaces

One of the most compelling aspects is how interior and exterior spaces interact:

• Terraces, courtyards and green edges surround the house, creating transitional zones instead of rigid walls.

• Large sliding doors open the common core to gardens, uniting interior and exterior spaces in moderate seasons.

• Strategic landscape design ensures views are formed and solar access is balanced—trees help shade in summer and let light through in winter.

This blurred boundary supports comfort and connection with nature.

Convenience, Efficiency and Autonomy

The passive house is designed to require minimal mechanical intervention:

• Even in extreme conditions, heating or cooling consumption should be minimal.

• Ventilation systems recover heat and maintain indoor air quality.

• Landscape and building envelope act as buffers against external extremes.

• The house can operate in low-energy modes when unoccupied.

In short: the house is a machine for comfortable living, but one that breathes, pulses and rests like an organism.

Why This Project Raises the Standard

• It demonstrates how a passive house can be adapted to tropical or subtropical climates, not just cold ones.

• It's understated—this is its strength. Architecture is solid, calm and consistent in both form and efficiency.

• It's a holistic work: landscape restoration, construction, landscape design, energy strategy and internal life are unified.

• It offers a modern response to the tension between nature and home, showing that one can live easily without suppressing the earth.

Photo © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo FinottiPhoto © Leonardo Finotti