Best of est | Stone-Clad Homes

Studio Arthur Casas was enlisted to renovate a summer residence in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro—renowned for its idyllic islands and beaches. The clients, who previously collaborated with the studio on their apartment’s interiors, sought to transform Angra House, originally designed by architect Fernando Peixoto, to better suit their evolving needs. Described as ‘incompatible’ with their lifestyle, the renovation focused on enhancing flow between shared spaces and framing the landscape and sea through expansive glass panes. Where views were unavailable, the design introduced raw stone, internal gardens, skylights, and pergolas, deepening the home’s connection to nature.

“This approach ensures an immersive experience, with textures to touch, perspectives to explore, and pathways to navigate,” Arthur Casas explains.

The home’s rough stone façade mirrors the surrounding rocky hillside, with varied tones and sizes set horizontally in mortar. Timber plays a prominent role throughout the decks, roofing, mashrabiyas (wooden lattice screens), flooring, cabinetry, and panels. “The original ceramic tile roof, paired with a straw ceiling, creates a harmonious contrast with the contemporary design of the home,” Casas adds.

Punta Cometa is a community nature reserve on the southern edge of Oaxaca, Mexico, with both environmental and pre-Hispanic historical significance. Here, architects Gabriela Carrillo and Mauricio Rocha were asked to design a retreat-like home in the town of Mazunte that borders the National Park.

Casa Cometa is located in a medium-sized jungle that loses its leaves in the dry season and becomes ‘lush and exuberant’ in the rainy season. The architects, who’ve worked together for 19 years, studied the region’s ancient history and local understanding of how to mitigate these weather extremes. While using materials typical of the region, they conceived a series of structures as horizontal and vertical ‘bodies’ that create corridors between them, prioritising air circulation.

Private areas are monastic spaces housed within the stone towers that frame important viewpoints. Casa Cometa features a consistent material palette of locally sourced stone, timber and mud – an environmentally and socially responsible way of connecting the home to place. Concrete was strategically used to achieve wider clearings and avoid removing existing trees.

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