Casa Minas by Sabella Arquitetura

With 280 m², Casa Minas, designed by the firm Sabella Arquitetura, combines wood structure, stone walls, and large glass panels to create a warm and welcoming retreat in southern Minas Gerais.

São Paulo, 2025 – Framed by the mountains of southern Minas Gerais, Casa Minas blends comfort, constructive efficiency, and integration with the surrounding landscape. Designed by the architectural firm Sabella Arquitetura, the 280 m² residence located in Itanhandu relies on engineered wood structures and stone walls to create a cozy and timeless architectural language.
Built on a plot that faces the valley, the house adopts a delta-shaped floor plan. The gentle bend of the layout frames the horizon, directing the view and providing privacy to the master suite, which is located at the end of the private wing.
The front façade is discreet, shielding the interior from outside view. Yet it sets the tone for the mountainous setting, which integrates seamlessly with the architecture through floor-to-ceiling glass panels, flooding the interior with natural light.

At the rear of the delta-shaped structure, a stone wall integrates with the façade, extending on both sides. This would have been a completely blank wall, if not for the high pivot windows in the kitchen and the recessed entrance — another design strategy to create a sense of shelter.
Next to the house, an artificial pond adds a contemplative and refreshing touch. Designed like a swimming pool, it was adapted with plants, rocks, and koi fish to blend naturally into the landscape.

The flat roof hides a practical and intelligent solution. Its structure is composed of cementitious panels that act as the ceiling and support an EVA membrane, which provides natural waterproofing for the roof.

This solution, combined with the modular structure, sped up construction. In just 15 days, the double glued laminated timber columns were installed — elements that set the rhythm of the façade with their large glass panels and support the roof beams. Positioned every 2 meters, the columns are barely visible from the outside — the glass frames align with them when closed, creating a clean and continuous look.

For finishes, the choice was for simple and well-coordinated materials, reinforcing the home’s refuge-like atmosphere. Cement flooring runs from the veranda through the social and service areas. In the bathrooms, hydraulic tiles cover the walls, while the bedrooms feature wooden floors and matching blinds.
Set within a working farm, Casa Minas integrates harmoniously with the landscape and reveals a retreat that balances technical precision with sensitivity.