DESIGNBOOM: lb+mr wraps ‘KT house’ around a central courtyard in são carlos, brazil

designed by lb+mr, ‘KT house’ is a single-story family home occupying a triangular-shaped plot on the outskirts of são carlos in brazil. realized for a young couple and their children, the contemporary dwelling is carefully planned to afford visual connection between spaces while providing privacy from street. 

images by favaro junior

the unconventional shape of the site and the requirement to leave a six-meter strip along the street edge informed lb+mr‘s final design. the architects wanted to create a home that would fit delicately into the land while allowing cross-ventilation and natural light to pass through the interiors. to achieve this goal, they shaped KT house from clear volumes and natural materials, giving it a robust yet relaxed aesthetic. 

as well as fitting the program into the triangular site, another aim of the project was to guarantee visual connection throughout the floor plan. to achieve this, the house is organized around a central courtyard that connects three well-defined wings: service, social and intimate. wooden brises and glass panels on these courtyard-facing elevations allow the spaces to be completely opened to the outdoors or closed off for privacy.

following the shape of the site, the project includes a triangular-shaped swimming pool, where the family can take a dip or relax by the decking at the side. along this side of the plot, there is the six-meter strip that serves as an extension of the courtyard, following the same concept that led the entire project: granting visual connection while maintaining residents’ privacy by the subtle use of dense vegetation and ground elevation.