Floreira House by Matheus Farah + Manoel Maia, A Verdant Minimalist Haven in Porto Feliz

Date of Publishing: April 9, 2025

Architecture Design of Floreira House

Description About The Project

Floreira House in Porto Feliz blends minimalism and lush nature through elevated planters, sustainable design, and a serene garden-focused layout.

The Project “Floreira House” Information:

Project Name: Floreira House
Location: Brazil
Project Year: 2024
Area: 1270 m²
Designed by: Matheus Farah + Manoel Maia Arquitetura

A Home Defined by Nature and Privacy

Nestled within a 3,182 sqm plot in the lush countryside of Porto Feliz, Brazil, Floreira House by Matheus Farah + Manoel Maia Arquitetura is a masterclass in weaving privacy, nature, and minimalist aesthetics into a cohesive family residence. The design takes advantage of the expansive site by centering all main living spaces around a generous garden — the heart of the home — where greenery and serenity take center stage.

Floreira House by Matheus Farah + Manoel Maia, A Verdant Minimalist Haven in Porto Feliz

“The intention was always to allow the garden to lead the architecture,” architect Manoel Maia told Luxury Houses Magazine. “It was never about placing the house on the site, but about letting the landscape guide its rhythm and flow.”

The upper level introduces a signature feature — elongated metal planters that embrace the external perimeter, softening transitions between concrete volumes and evoking a dialogue with the surrounding environment.

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Seamless Integration of Interior and Exterior

Floreira House masterfully dissolves the boundaries between indoors and out. Expansive glass panels open completely toward the garden and pool, transforming the dining, living, and office areas into a seamless veranda that fosters connection with nature and enhances the home’s spaciousness.

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“These sliding glass planes create a constant relationship between the living environment and the horizon,” shared architect Matheus Farah. “Our aim was to create fluidity, not just in circulation, but in emotion.”

Concrete walls shield the service and functional areas without disrupting the openness. These protective elements enclose the kitchen, laundry, gym, and sauna — all visually receding to preserve the purity of the social areas’ interaction with the landscape.

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Upper Level Tranquility and Design Cohesion

The second floor houses six suites, each thoughtfully oriented for sunlight and privacy. Five lateral bedrooms use aluminum brise-soleils to filter daylight and views, while the master suite commands a calming vista of the garden from its private balcony.

A restrained, modern palette of neutral hues and clean finishes ensures a calm interior. Carefully curated furniture from iconic Brazilian designers Jorge Zalszupin, Jader Almeida, Carlos Motta, and Sergio Rodrigues grounds the space with cultural sophistication.

“We wanted the interiors to reflect the Brazilian soul — refined but honest, modern yet rooted,” Maia remarked in a conversation with Luxury Houses.

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Material Simplicity with Sustainable Impact

The architectural language is purposefully minimal, but the materials speak volumes. Concrete panels — with wood-textured molds — give the building volume and character while celebrating craftsmanship. The ground and upper levels are visually distinguished by subtle tonal shifts.

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“The client wanted elegance without excess,” Farah noted. “Prefabricated elements helped us maintain control, reduce waste, and enhance the home’s construction speed and integrity.”

Sustainability was embedded throughout: from irrigation systems to photovoltaic readiness and tailored lighting automation in key areas, every detail emphasizes long-term efficiency without sacrificing comfort or design.

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A Planter-Framed Home with Lasting Harmony

Floreira House earns its name from the distinctive overhead planters that embrace the architecture in a continuous green ribbon. These elements don’t just add botanical flourish — they symbolize the home’s overarching goal: to live with nature, not beside it.

“In this house, the planter isn’t an accessory,” the architects emphasized in their final statement to Luxury Houses Magazine. “It’s a living structure — a gentle boundary and a breathing part of the architecture.”