Grabowski House

Grabowski House

Grabowski House is an architecturally significant residential structure located in Itaipava, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that exemplifies innovative structural engineering and harmonious integration with its natural surroundings. Designed by Miguel Pinto Guimarães and his team, this remarkable dwelling, completed after a 24-month construction period, features a distinctive green roof that creates a visual bridge between the valley slopes of its 348,078-square-meter site. The house's most notable architectural achievement is its 20-meter-long pillarless veranda, made possible through the implementation of a Vierendeel truss system, which forms the exterior structural skeleton of the building. This engineering solution enables the upper floor to appear to float above the veranda, eliminating boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. The 762.87-square-meter residence is characterized by its U-shaped upper floor design, which encompasses bedrooms positioned above the veranda, dining room, and home theatre. At its heart, a central double-height space houses the living room and a sculpture garden, demonstrating the project's dedication to artistic integration. The house employs natural materials throughout, including raw concrete walls, wooden ceilings and flooring, and natural stone details, chosen specifically for their ability to age gracefully and integrate with the surrounding environment. The residence, which won the Golden A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category in 2019, features a sophisticated steel bridge connecting both sides of the upper floor across the double-height space, while a commissioned site-specific art installation by Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto enhances the sculpture garden, reflecting the owners' dedication to art collection.

residential architecture, sustainable design, structural innovation, green roof integration, contemporary Brazilian architecture, artistic integration

— Adam Dawson