AEA House in Rio
Tucked into the lush Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro and overlooking the crystal-clear waters of Angra dos Reis, the AEA House is a masterclass in architectural harmony with nature. Designed by Paulo Jacobsen, renowned for his work with wood, the home blends effortlessly into its wild surroundings, perched lightly on the topography without disrupting the land it inhabits.
Accessed either by boat or a winding mountain road, the house is full of thoughtful details. A massive stone anchors the design, emerging through the wooden floor and revealing its scale only once you descend to the open-plan social spaces below. With the sea as a back, the lower level flows seamlessly from kitchen to living areas to a serene reflecting pool, all framed by a structure of laminated wood, concrete, and steel that respects both form and environment.
Upstairs, sun-filtering muxarabi panels made of oxidized wood echo the salt-faded trunks scattered along the nearby beaches. A long bench wraps the balcony, creating a quiet link between indoors and out. With native gardens, a freeform pool, and ancient trees shading its edges, the AEA House is not just a retreat, it is a gentle, grounded extension of the forest and sea that surround it.
You start dying when you stop dreaming.