FMM 08 Concept House

Cuiabá, Brazil

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FMM 08 Concept House

Cuiabá, Brazil

Firm

Type

Residential › Private House

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2011

SIZE

1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

BUDGET

$100K - 500K

This project was conceived entirely to respond to a city defined by extreme heat, where solar exposure dominates the environment and dictates architectural decisions. Every formal choice was guided by the need to protect the interior from external heat, creating a comfortable and energy-efficient living environment.

A defining strategy was the introduction of a third slab above the main structure, designed to generate deep shadows across the building. In this region, roughly 60% of solar heat enters through the roof, making this intervention critical. By carefully modulating overhangs and roof projections, the design reduces direct solar gain, creating cooler, shaded spaces throughout the day.

Achieving high energy efficiency required a detailed study of the sun’s path across the year. The house was positioned and oriented to optimize shading, natural ventilation, and passive cooling, ensuring that interior spaces remain comfortable even during the hottest months. This rigorous analysis of solar geometry, combined with a design language that balances functional necessity and architectural expression, allowed the project to transform a challenging climate into an opportunity for innovation.

The result is more than a house—it is a carefully calibrated response to extreme weather, where form, orientation, and materiality converge to create a sustainable and comfortable home.