vazio S/A shades its 'serra house' in a facade of woven bamboo

serra house: a contemporary home for a rural site

Brazilian studio Vazio S/A takes to the rural landscape of Serra da Moeda to complete its Serra House, an example of contemporary architecture drawing from the natural environment. The project finds its roots in a deep connection to the history of the region — found in Brazil‘s central state of Minas Gerais — and the site’s abundant natural and renewable resources. It is recognized at once by its facade of irregular bamboo screens which function as a unique, textural shading element. The result is a celebration of a rural family’s heritage and the landscape that surrounds it.

images © Studio Pixel / Daniel Mansur | @daniel.mansu

sustainable and locally-sourced bamboo

The defining feature of Vazio S/A’s Serra House is the woven bamboo screen that envelops the entire structure, apart from the southern facade which remains untouched by direct sunlight. Facing east and west, the windows are shaded by the latticework of bamboo, a natural element found in abundance across the region. To ensure longevity and resilience, the bamboo underwent on-site pre-treatment, submerged in a bath of borax and boric acid. This eco-conscious preservation method offers multifaceted benefits as it functions as an insecticide, fungicide, and fire retardant.

The use of bamboo is a sustainable choice from an environmental standpoint. Bamboo matures within just three years, posing no harm to its natural context during extraction. This versatile material is common across Brazil’s interior landscapes, often employed in railings, fences, and ceilings. Its adoption in the Serra House champions sustainability and underscores the economic advantages and durability achievable through proper treatment.

inside the dwelling by vazio s/a

The Serra House’s design by Vazio S/A thoughtfully integrates the natural surroundings and the needs of its inhabitants. A terrace extends out toward sweeping views of the idyllic northern valley. The bamboo screen wrapping the facade can be adjusted to either embrace the stunning landscape or shade the interiors from the intense afternoon sun. The structure’s slab is constructed using bricks and precast elements, capped with a thermo-acoustic sandwich trapezoidal roof tile. Eucalyptus is the material of choice for pre-assembled windows, while MDF is employed to craft the doors.

The structure is the result of a communal effort. The retired owner, who spent four decades working as a cook in Belo Horizonte, received construction resources as donations from her former employers, and local builders came together to bring the project. With two bedrooms, a living space, service area, wood stove, terrace, and a modest 110 square meters of built space, the Serra House is a symbol of community spirit, heritage preservation, and sustainable design.

an irregular bamboo lattice wraps the house on three sides
the renewable material is locally sourced and sustainablethe facade filters strong sunlight and casts patterned shadows