Casa Brava — project notes

Paraty is a particular kind of place to work. The old town is a World Heritage Site; the rules governing what can be built within the buffer zone are detailed and sometimes opaque. We spent six months in pre-design discussions with the municipal heritage office before we could proceed with any confidence.

The site was previously a mango orchard. The clients insisted that as many trees as possible be retained. In the end we kept eleven of the original twenty-three — the ones that would have been killed by the earthworks regardless were felled and milled on site. That timber became the decking and some of the interior joinery.

One decision we continue to discuss: the pivot of the house. We oriented the main elevation to face the prevailing south-east wind, which is correct for comfort and natural ventilation. But this means the house turns its back on the view towards the bay, which is to the north-west. We created a secondary terrace facing the view, but it is inherently less comfortable than the shaded south-east terrace. We think the decision was right, but the compromise is real.