The tropical paradise that is Studio MK27’s Mororó House is not what you’d expect. Just two hours from São Paulo, Campos do Jordão is a region that experiences a much cooler climate than typical of South America, and still features undeveloped expanses of old-growth Atlantic Forest. It’s here, tucked away in the Mantiqueira mountains, that you’ll find Marcio Kogan’s latest project nestled among the pines. They’re Paraná pines, an evergreen that is native to Brazil, but Kogan’s inviting design would seem equally at home surrounded by more traditional conifers atop the Alps. Campos do Jordão is in fact nicknamed Suíça Brasileira – Brazilian Switzerland, thanks to its altitude and downright cold winters.
Even in the mild summers, evening temperatures can be quite low and the house is designed to allow its residents to fully enjoy the lush greenery of the landscape, from a comfortable vantage point. Sprawled along the bottom of the site, the steel and glass peaked-roof structure was originally intended to sit higher up, where the owners thought they’d get the best views. But Kogan convinced them to go lower, where the home is not only are completely surrounded by nature in an intimate grove, but also avoid heavy winds, which adds to its thermal efficiency.
A series of floor-to-ceiling sliding wooden doors runs the 50-metre length of the main volume, opening up the interior to the outdoors. This black steel-clad section is capped at the end with a glass enclosure which houses a pool that can be enjoyed – along with the views – in any weather. Decks also cap the house at both ends, for drinking in the landscape and soaking up the the sun on warmer days.
Rustic slate flooring runs from the bathhouse through the remainder of the interior, which is completely wrapped in warm wood. The aesthetic is much like an Alpine chalet: simultaneously cozy and airy, with high ceilings and a fireplace stetching along the front of the living room. A dining table that seats 16 divides the kitchen from the main living space, and another sliding wall, this one in white, can also close the kitchen off entirely. The white wall continues down the length of the hall, guiding the way to the five bedrooms, including the mastersuite, as well as a gym, TV room and office/games room.