Campinarana House

Campinarana House

Campinarana House is an innovative architectural masterpiece located in Manaus, Amazon, Brazil, that exemplifies sustainable design principles adapted to extreme equatorial conditions. This residential structure, designed by Laurent Troost, represents a radical departure from traditional housing typology by inverting the conventional arrangement, positioning bedrooms on the ground floor and living spaces above. The design's primary objective was to preserve the pre-existing Campinarana, a distinctive Amazonian forest ecosystem, by minimizing the building's footprint while maximizing thermal comfort through passive sustainability features. The structure comprises two main volumes: a longitudinal section housing utilities and a transverse volume containing primary living spaces. The house spans 232 square meters internally and 366 square meters in total built area, featuring a contemporary reinterpretation of Brazilian colonial roof design with eight pitches arranged in two levels, facilitating natural ventilation through an innovative air mattress system. The architectural solution incorporates Corten steel roofing, selected for its low maintenance requirements and evolutionary characteristics that harmonize with the Campinarana's reddish clay soil. The fully glazed living room, equipped with sliding windows and glass fins, enables seamless integration with the covered terrace, solarium, and pool while ensuring cross-ventilation. This exemplary piece of sustainable architecture, recognized with a Silver A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category, demonstrates exceptional achievement in addressing environmental challenges while maintaining aesthetic excellence and functional efficiency.

sustainable architecture, Amazonian design, passive cooling, ecological preservation, innovative housing, tropical architecture

— Adam Dawson