From Bernardes Arquitectura and construction company Ita Construtora is Pipa House, a prefab concept designed to meet an array of clients’ needs. Its modular units allow for custom arrangements, and, as prefab, each design can be created and installed relatively quickly with minimal waste.

Here, Bernardes’s prototype consists of three main volumes connected by a hallway that runs the length of the structure. The largest volume houses the kitchen and a large open-plan living/dining area, where full-height sliding glass doors open to the surroundings, making for bright and airy interiors.

Down the hallway are two smaller volumes of equal size, each containing a bedroom with sliders that open onto a deck. If more bedrooms are desired, simply add more modules.

“For the design of Pipa House, it was very important for us that the final composition of all the prefab pieces created an atmosphere of home,” explains architect Rafael Oliveira, one of the firm’s partners. “We were seeking to enhance the use of natural materials in a way that would remind us of a more simple way of living.”

The concept relies on a structural system of eucalyptus glulam beams that allows the design to be implemented in a variety of site conditions. With an elevated plan, the home is less prone to groundwater, and utilities distributed underneath the floor slab are more easily accessed.

Each module contains an HVAC system that can be operated independently, making the home more energy efficient. External walls are constructed from prefabricated concrete panels and full-height glass sliders, with a ventilated facade system that ensures minimal maintenance and high thermal insulation.

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Bernardes Arquitetura / @bernardesarq

Interior Design: Bernardes Arquitetura

Developer: Pippa Empreendimentos + Laer Engenhairia

Construction: Ita Construtora

Engineering: Laer Engenharia / @laerengenharia

Electrical and Hydraulic Installations: Zamaro

Wooden Structure: Ita Construtora, Engineer Hélio Olga

Landscaping: Marcelo Faisal / @marcelofaisal

Lighting: Lightworks

Photos: Ruy Teixeira

Furniture: Ornare

Woodwork: Arali