MRL House

In the coastal city of Paraty, Rio de Janeiro, on a plot of land with direct beach access, the MRL House was designed to integrate architecture, landscape, and sea. Upon arrival, the large porte-cochère, resulting from the cantilevered upper volume, anticipates the generous scale of the house. A reflecting pool with a sculpture by Tomie Ohtake marks the main entrance and creates the first point of contemplation.

From there, the spacious living room, with double-height ceilings, organizes the social areas along a common axis, forming a continuous space between two gardens: the entrance and the lawn facing the sea.

Large glass openings and the use of natural materials enhance the transparency and lightness of the composition. The L-shaped layout was carefully designed to take advantage of the sun’s orientation and frame the view, while also creating a living area facing the sea. The pool, designed as part of the architecture, features an infinity edge and an integrated sunken lounge, fulfilling the clients’ desire for maximum enjoyment of the leisure area. The choice of two floors allowed for maximum open space on the ground floor, reinforcing the connection between interior and exterior.

Nearby are the gourmet veranda and the family room, where the pool table, a signature piece by Jacobsen, reinforces our design philosophy.

A sculptural stone staircase leads to the upper floor, where a hall divides the children’s and guest wings, as well as the master suite.

The hallway leading to the master suite is protected by a long stone bench and offers views of the double-height living room. The master and children’s suites open to the sea, while the guest bedrooms face the interior garden.

The upper façade is protected by grayish brise-soleils, developed from several prototypes until the ideal spacing was achieved. In addition to ensuring privacy and thermal comfort, the shade of the brise-soleils references the aged tree trunks of the region’s beaches, integrating the project into Paraty’s coastal landscape.