Nudging the Tropic of Capricorn on the north shore of São Paulo, Baleia Beach - so named for the whale like form of the surrounding landscape - is generally considered to be one of the most preternaturally lovely coastal locations in Brazil. Therefore when it came to designing an ocean facing beach house within this remote and largely unspoilt location, Arthur Casas, one of Brazil’s most pre-eminent architects, was careful not only to take advantage of the wonderful vistas, but also to preserve the spirit of this magical setting. “The Baleia Beach House was built on the last piece of land available in one of the most beautiful beaches in Sao Paulo so we were keen to optimize the sea view as well as take advantage of the landscape, sun and climate. One of our main aims was to create architecture that would be sensitive and not impose itself on the landscape. A building that would instead be seen as part of the landscape, almost unnoticed,” explains Sao Paulo based Arthur Casas. As a result Baleia Beach House, a four bedroom contemporary villa arranged over three levels, has openness and transparency writ large into its design. So much so, a great swathe of floor to ceiling height sliding glass ‘partition walls’ on the ground floor allows views all the way through the house from the ‘enclosed’ living area to the exterior lounge and tropical garden and poolside to the beach and sea beyond. The impression is almost of a house without walls. Yet, that’s not to say that this transparency and seamless blending with the landscape setting has sacrificed the intimacy that is important in making a house a home. Indeed, far from it, as Arthur Casas explains. “Another important issue was to preserve privacy. Therefore we created a “blind” side façade in the form of a green wall.” This ‘green wall’ of plantings, effectively offering privacy from neighbouring properties, sets the eco-savvy agenda of the villa, which also includes, amongst other sustainable features, a turf roof. “The green roof, besides being beautiful, helps attract the native fauna, especially birds,” admits Casas, who admits to having a “holistic” approach to architectural design. “I was influenced by professionals who have a holistic approach; particularly the “Paulistas” architects from the 1950s and 60s,” explains Casas. Certainly, Baleia Beach House’s no nonsense cubic volumes; expressed materials such as the hand-made brick recalls the Brazilian Paulista architects, who favoured chunkier geometric forms and exposed structures with an emphasis on materials and texture, contrary to the smooth, sinuous surfaces of the Brasilia buildings of their high profile contemporary Oscar Niemeyer. This “holistic” approach in the Baleia Beach House includes a system of passive controlled ventilation achieved via walls of adjustable Cumaru hardwood louvers, which minimize the need for mechanically operated air conditioning systems and fans. “We were keen that the house would have a low impact on the environment, so we have lots of transparency and natural cross ventilation. In addition we have used many locally sourced, organic materials in the construction such as hand made brick and stone, with Cumaru hardwood finishes. We try to use local suppliers always, both labour and materials. The environmental impact issue is very important to this house and all of our projects,” explains Casas. As well as addressing issues of sustainability, Casas also admits that the Baleia Beach House has at its heart: “the wellbeing of the individuals living in the house. We are concerned with the way that the spaces can be experienced and shared, and how they can be used for comfort and leisure,” continues Casas. This aspiration to create a series of both intimate and social spaces is one that very much chimes with the feeling of the Marcondes family, the owners of the Baleia Beach House. “This is a place where we like to rest, and "re-charge the batteries". Yet at the same time we love having friends to visit, enjoying the house and the surrounding landscape with us. The spaces are ideal for socializing,” explains Ana Marcondes. “The design of the house feels like it is floating. I also like the dimensions of the house - the high ceilings. And we love the ocean views, which we can enjoy at the same time as relaxing in the comfort of our home.” These views penetrate and permeate all the main living spaces, which are arranged across the whole of the ground floor, and which can variously be experienced open or enclosed by means of the sliding and pivoting glass ‘partition walls’. An open-air roof terrace provides a more full on’ plein air’ living experience at roof level of the building with the second floor of the modern villa given over to a suite of four private en-suite bedrooms. The interior finishes reflect the simple “organic” form and texture of the hand made brick, timber and “green” exteriors. A crisp no fuss minimalist palette of white walls and Cumaru hardwood and limestone floors provides a perfect backdrop for the family’s art collection and the simple hand crafted furniture pieces, some of which were created by some of Brazil’s best know Modernist designers including Jean Gillon, who designed the armchair in the master bedroom; and internationally renowned Sergio Rodrigues, whose ‘Mole’ armchair and stool in the main living area is now considered as something of a landmark in Brazilian Furniture design. Furniture pieces by Arthur Casas also feature throughout the Baleia Beach House. Casas began his career, following his graduation from architecture school in the 1980’s, as an interior and product designer. Casas furniture in Baleia include the living room sofa and coffee table, which combine reclaimed materials such as richly textured wood in this case, with clean contemporary lines and refined and restrained geometries. Many of the furniture pieces throughout the villa have been created locally using reclaimed materials, which chimes with the sustainable design raison d’etre of the whole house design. Key amongst these artisan pieces is the impressive full-length ‘rustic’ table in the exterior dining area. This seamless coexistence of contemporary cutting-edge architecture and laid-back living spaces - as well as the indigenous furniture pieces built for relaxation - would be considered as good as beach living gets. However the Baleia Beach House also ups the ante with its “holistic” aspirations to minimize its impact on the environment, and encompass passive energy sources. And in doing so demonstrates that luxury need not be sacrificed when eco solutions are embraced. As a result this really can be seen as a beach house of the future. written by Caroline Ednie