E S T Ú D I O
fmm08
concept house
single family house
built
cuiaba-mt-brazil
250m²
2008-2012
frederico m. montanha
angela kurmann
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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 necessity to protect the interior from external heat, creating a comfortable and energy-efficient living environment. The design framework focuses on a high-performance envelope, utilizing the house's very geometry as a primary shield against thermal gain.
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 and ensuring the structural mass remains protected from the tropical sun.
High energy efficiency required a detailed study of the sun’s path across the year. The house was 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 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 home. The building’s performance proves that efficiency is a matter of poetic and climatic sensitivity. Through this integrated approach, the project stands as a definitive model for residential architecture, where intelligence and local craftsmanship converge to create a high-performance environment.
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estudio kmmk
Zürich | ZH | Switzerland
