At the neighborhood of Botafogo, among newer buildings and bohemian bars and shops, there are reminiscences of the history of that part of Rio de Janeiro. One of the most iconic are the many vilas tucked in hidden corners. Vilas, in Brazilian Portuguese, is the denomination for a common feature in Brazilian cities such as Rio and São Paulo: a group of middle class houses within one single street that has no way out and, usually, a gate for entrance. 

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In a neighborhood busting consecutive real state launches such as Botafogo, the decision to live in a house, specially in the Fernandes Guimarães St. (with almost no traffic, ending in a square and a 10 minute walk from a subway station), indicates a desire to be at the center of the city, near all services, and, at the same time, be in contact with the outdoors, connecting with nature on a daily basis. That desire is about being able to lay down upon grass and take breakfast in a chair outside, something not easily done in an apartment. But in a vila, that's just how the days go by.

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For this project, taking into consideration the designated client (a young couple with intentions of growing the family in the near future) and the aforementioned desire, to create the communal and outdoor-ish atmosphere of a vila was the end goal.