On the southern edge of São Miguel Island, Casa CR stands as a quiet declaration that starting over holds its own kind of power. Designed by SO Arquitetura & Design for a couple in their eighties, the 250-square-metre home rises from volcanic ground shaped by basalt boulders and dry coastal vegetation.
ARCHITECTURE
The project approaches the landscape with restraint, allowing the terrain to remain present rather than reshaped.
A broad concrete canopy extends outward like a wing, hovering above glazed façades that open fully to garden and horizon. The gesture carries personal meaning: the owner once served as an Air Force pilot. The metaphor remains understated, expressed through proportion and projection instead of literal form. The house reads as grounded yet lifted, sheltered yet exposed to Atlantic light and wind.
Laid out on a single level, Casa CR prioritizes clarity and accessibility. Movement flows without obstacles, reinforcing a calm and functional daily rhythm. At the center, a tropical courtyard draws daylight and air into the core of the home. This internal garden moderates climate while maintaining constant visual contact with nature. The transition from inside to outside unfolds gradually beneath the protective canopy.
Interiors lined in wood temper the solidity of concrete, introducing warmth and tactile continuity. From nearly every vantage point, the exterior remains visible, whether toward the courtyard or across the open coastline. The architecture cultivates continuity, dissolving hard separations between rooms and landscape.
Casa CR resists excess. It relies on proportion, light, and air to define atmosphere. On a site marked by volcanic memory and shifting weather, SO Arquitetura & Design craft a home that honors experience while embracing renewal. It stands as an essential dwelling, shaped for those who understand that living well depends less on scale and more on intention.
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