A House in the Forested Landscape of Canela

Set within a residential condominium in Canela, in the mountainous region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, House in Canela by 0E1 Arquitetos explores the relationship between architecture, construction technique and landscape. Surrounded by native forests and rolling hills, the house occupies a 500 sq.m. sloping plot, where the terrain drops approximately 10 m from the entrance to the chosen building site and around 15 m across the entire lot.

This topographical condition became one of the main conceptual drivers of the project. Rather than treating the slope and vegetation as obstacles, the design uses them as the basis for the siting, access and construction strategy of the house.

A Compact Retreat for Flexible Use

The house was commissioned by a family with a strong interest in architecture, who actively participated in discussions and decisions throughout the process. Conceived as both a weekend retreat and a short-term rental, the project required a compact and self-sufficient program capable of comfortably accommodating up to two couples.

Within approximately 120 sq.m. of built area, the house needed to ensure independence between bedrooms while maintaining generous spatial quality. The result is a small but carefully worked residence, where every square meter is tied to a clear functional and atmospheric intention.

 

 

Site Analysis and Minimal Impact

Before the design process began, a multidisciplinary team of biologists and surveyors carried out a detailed site analysis. Vegetation was mapped, trees were catalogued and species were classified as native or exotic, allowing the architects to understand the forested terrain with precision.

The house was placed in the only existing clearing on the plot, minimizing tree removal and reducing the need for major earthworks. This decision preserves the surrounding ecosystem and turns the forest into an active component of the architectural experience.

A Square Plan with Pinwheel Organization

The house is organized on a square footprint measuring 10.8 x 10.8 m. Within this regular geometry, the spaces are arranged dynamically in a pinwheel-like configuration. The living room occupies the center of the plan and acts as the main organizational core.

From this central room, the service areas and private zones radiate outward. Two independent suites, a kitchen, service area, barbecue area and terraces are connected to the central living space, creating a clear balance between communal use and privacy.

 

 

Light Steel Frame as Construction Strategy

The choice of a light steel frame system responds directly to the constraints of the terrain and to the experimental character of the project. Lightweight and quick to assemble, the system eliminated the need for concrete mixers on site and reduced impact on soil and vegetation.

A leveling slab acts as the platform for the metal structure, helping reduce waste, maintain a clean construction site and ensure precise control over the building process. Beyond its technical role, the steel frame also informed the architectural language of the house, allowing generous spans, accurate closures and a clear volumetric relationship with the landscape.

Industrial Materials at Domestic Scale

Instead of covering the steel frame to imitate conventional masonry, the house embraces its industrial logic. The exterior walls and roof are clad with trapezoidal sandwich panels, a material usually associated with industrial buildings, here applied at the scale of a domestic retreat.

The panels provide thermal and acoustic performance, require low maintenance and visually unify the building. Their installation demanded specialized teams, ensuring construction precision and a controlled finish. Externally, the dark-toned cladding reduces visual impact, allowing the house to appear discreetly among the trees.

 

 

Skylight, Openings and Forest Views

The asymmetrical roof culminates in a skylight at its highest point, creating the only direct view of the sky from within the dense forest. This opening brings consistent daylight into the interior, enhances the perception of space and creates shifting patterns of light and shadow throughout the day.

Generous floor-to-ceiling windows, 2.4 m high, bring in natural light and ventilation while turning the surrounding forest into a continuous presence inside the house. Slightly recessed rather than flush with the façade, the windows create a sequence of planes and framed views that add depth to the envelope.

Access Through the Terrain

Access to the house is carefully integrated into the slope. A staircase of 64 steps winds through the site, avoiding trees and roots. Each step measures 1.20 x 0.30 m, with intermediate landings of 1.20 x 1.20 m.

The staircase was adjusted during construction in response to the terrain. Centrally supported steps create subtle cantilevers, and together with the landscaping, they give the impression of a light, almost floating path through the forest.

 

 

Interior Planes, Wood and Slate

Inside, the architecture is organized in two visual planes. Up to 2.40 m high, the walls remain white, continuing through doors and terrace openings. Above this level, Tauari wood panels follow the slope of the roof, while black metal trim marks the material transitions and reappears at the baseboards.

Slate flooring reinforces the material palette. Originally supplied in 0.40 x 0.40 m slabs, it was cut into 0.10 x 0.40 m pieces, creating a pattern reminiscent of parquet. Over time, the slate develops a greenish patina, allowing the effects of climate and humidity to become part of the house’s character.

Living Room, Kitchen and Autonomous Suites

The living room, elevated about 2 m above the ground, opens onto a terrace with a hidden staircase leading to the garden. A wood-burning stove brings warmth to the cooler mountain climate and becomes a focal point in the central space. From here, the surrounding landscape unfolds like a constantly changing painting.

The kitchen faces the access side and maintains a direct relationship with the staircase and rear barbecue area. Basalt countertops are combined with cabinets in alternating white and wood finishes, following the interior’s broader material logic.

The suites are conceived as autonomous units. In the main bedroom, a wooden slat headboard incorporates a functional niche, while the bathroom door is camouflaged within the same plane, reinforcing visual continuity. Floor-to-ceiling windows open the bathroom to the forest, offering generous views while preserving privacy.

 

 

A Laboratory for Residential Construction

Started in 2021 and completed in 2024, House in Canela functions as an architectural laboratory. Its 120 sq.m. built area corresponds to the condominium’s minimum permitted size, achieved without removing trees by reducing lateral setbacks.

The construction process followed an efficient schedule: approximately two months for foundations, two weeks for assembling the steel structure and additional months for closures and interior finishes. Through this process, the project demonstrates how contemporary construction systems and materials rarely used at residential scale can respond to strict site conditions.

The result is a compact retreat that combines technical rigor with architectural sensitivity, offering an immersive experience of living within the landscape.