PAB House by SAAG Arquitetura is a residential project designed with careful attention to site, scale, and spatial clarity. The home is located in the Brazilian countryside, within a natural setting that gently slopes and unfolds with native vegetation. It is organized around two L-shaped volumes that distinguish private and social uses while maintaining a cohesive relationship with the landscape.
The first block, reserved for private spaces, is designed with an austere material palette. Opposite it, the second volume opens generously to the surroundings, housing the living and gathering spaces. Here, floor-to-ceiling glass panels and large openings allow for uninterrupted visual continuity with the outdoor areas, supporting the architects’ intent to dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior.
SAAG Arquitetura organizes the volumes of its PAB House to follow the subtle slope of its site. This is most clearly expressed in the pool’s organic outline, which traces the contours of the land instead of cutting through it. The result is a water feature that appears embedded in the terrain. Views are calibrated to balance openness with privacy. The visual relationship between the two blocks encourages a dialogue while maintaining separation.
Throughout the design, the architects emphasize a balance between structure and lightness. The more solid block is defined by rhythmic apertures that modulate sunlight and natural breezes. These openings introduce variety and texture to the facade and maintain the overall unity of the building. A subtle horizontal line delineates the transition between floors, reinforcing the layered reading of the architecture and articulating the relationship between the vertical and horizontal planes.
▲ 该建筑整体由2个L形建筑体块组合而成,分别将公共开放功能与私密功能置入其中
the house is organized around two L-shaped volumes that separate private and social areas
The roofscape of the upper volume takes cues from vernacular house forms, particularly the gable, but reinterprets them with a contemporary approach. A lightweight metal roof replaces traditional tile, resting atop a rectilinear base to create a sense of tension and equilibrium. This choice of materials, along with the crisp detailing, lends a modern expression while subtly referencing familiar rural silhouettes.
Materiality across the house continues the architectural themes of restraint and warmth. The palette includes cacao stone flooring, textured wood, and native plantings that weave through built and open spaces alike. The result is a residence that draws from its setting both visually and tactically. The home’s interiors suggest a layering of experience, where furnishings and collected objects bring texture to an otherwise composed architectural framework. The house becomes a container for stories.
▲ 有私密功能的体块设计的较为封闭,有公共开放功能的体块则沿着周边景观展开放置
the private block is dense and enclosed, while the social block opens fully to the landscape
▲ 场地内部分原有植被被保留,建筑体块顺应地势缓缓展开
the layout preserves existing vegetation and follows the natural contours of the land
▲ 室外泳池不是强制建造在场地的某一处,而是顺应地势建造
an organically shaped swimming pool is embedded into the terrain rather than imposed on it
▲ 设计师对传统山墙屋顶进行改造更新,融入了现代材料与形态
a reinterpretation of the traditional gable roof introduces modern materials and form
▲ 住宅采用天然石材地面与木质墙面、屋面,营造简约温馨的氛围
natural stone floors and rustic wood elements bring warmth to the restrained architecture
▲ 住宅立面设计有规律性的窗洞口,将自然光线引进室内
facades feature rhythmic openings that provide natural light and ventilation