FMM 16 House of winds

Cuiabá, Brazil

Add To Collection

Other Projects by estudio kmmk

Add To Collection

FMM 16 House of winds

Cuiabá, Brazil

Firm

estudio kmmk

Type

Residential › Private House

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2013

SIZE

1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

BUDGET

$100K - 500K

Photos

fredemontanha (12)

Located in Cuiabá, at the precise geographic heart of South America, FMM16—aptly named the House of the Winds—is a residential project deeply rooted in the Brazilian Cerrado. The architecture is conceived as a bridge between the built environment and the native landscape, where atmospheric phenomena such as wind and rain are not merely external factors to be excluded, but active participants in the domestic experience. This integration reflects the ethos of the inhabitants—a couple whose lifestyle is defined by a profound connection to the natural world.

The social core of the residence revolves around the veranda, a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional Brazilian porch. This space serves as a fluid threshold, merging the interior common rooms with a sweeping view of the adjacent forest. By utilizing a playful composition of solids and voids, the design facilitates a continuous flow of breezes originating from the green belt, naturally cooling the social areas. This volume is sheltered by a tectonic assembly of timber framing and clay tiles, grounding the house in local material traditions.

The private program is organized within a compact, rational block. To mitigate the intense tropical heat of the region, the bedrooms are oriented toward the south, minimizing solar gain. The project achieves an extraordinary reduction in energy consumption—approximately 80% lower than regional standards—through a purely passive bioclimatic strategy. By utilizing low-impact materials, strategic solar orientation, and high-thermal-performance envelopes (including double-layered north facades and insulated roofing), the house maintains thermal comfort without the need for mechanical air conditioning, even during extreme summer peaks.

FMM16 challenges the historical assumption that fully passive cooling is impossible in the Brazilian Midwest. It stands as a testament to the power of low-tech, high-intelligence design. By prioritizing low "gray energy" during construction and maximizing operational efficiency, the project invites a necessary dialogue between the resourcefulness of the Global South and the high-tech sustainability models of wealthier nations. It is an architecture of necessity that proves energy efficiency is primarily a matter of poetic and climatic sensitivity.

project credits
Project Name: FMM16
Project year: 2012
Construction year: 2013
Engineering: MRY Engineering
Location: Cuiaba-MT, Brazil
Type: Single Family House
Area: 233m2