- Project: NB Residence
- Architect: Jacobsen Arquitetura
- Location: Brazil, Frade Condominium, Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro
- Year: 2019
- Area: 760 m2
- Photography: Fernando Guerra | FG+SG
A Coastal Retreat in Dialogue with Nature
NB Residence marks Jacobsen Arquitetura’s first major renovation in Frade condominium, within picturesque Angra dos Reis. Poised between hillside forest and the Atlantic, the residence bridges the landscapes of forest, road, and sea with a design that senses place as much as it shapes it.
The house faces a quiet local access road on one side, while the other façade opens expansively toward the ocean. The street-facing façade is intentionally compact and restrained, so that the full architectural expression is revealed gradually from the sea side—creating a sense of arrival and surprise.
Form, Structure & Spatial Strategy
Rather than alter the existing footprint radically, the design respects the original volumetric envelope, complying with height and coverage limits while subtly expanding where possible. To enhance views and resilience, the sea-facing floor level is slightly elevated above the original datum.
The structure is a metal frame of slender proportions, allowing for wide spans and minimal visual obstruction. On the upper level, deep cantilevered eaves and balconies shield the habitable spaces from direct sun while reinforcing the home’s horizontal geometry. The ground floor is conceived as a completely open, integrated social plane, with sliding panels erasing the line between indoors and out.
The swimming pool terrace extends toward the sea, enhancing continuity between water, architecture, and horizon.
Interior Flow & Programmatic Layers
Entry into the house is mediated by a dramatic wooden pergola, which filters light and creates a transitional threshold from nature to interior. A large reflecting water feature flows through the interior, stitching rooms together and guiding the eye toward views.
The family bedrooms and guest suites are placed on the upper level, accessed via a double-height hall that unites social and private zones.
On the roof, the residence hosts a dedicated leisure pavilion, containing a gym, massage room, steam room, and support amenities for the elevated terrace overlooking the sea.
Materiality & Finishes
The material palette is thoughtfully restrained but rich in texture. The architects selected:
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Freijó wood for interior panels and ceilings, which adds warmth and natural grain
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Ceramic floors for cooling neutrality
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Carbonized wood façades (a technique inspired by traditional Japanese charring) to deliver a robust, weather-resistant, and sculptural exterior skin
This combination yields a refined, minimalist aesthetic that embraces both tropics and craft.
Sustainability & Climatic Response
NB Residence emphasizes passive environmental strategies over technological overlay.
Large overhangs, ventilated façades, and cross-ventilation mitigate solar gain and reduce reliance on mechanical cooling. The elevated structure and water features help regulate microclimate, while locally sourced materials limit embodied energy.
The design weaves artisanal techniques and modern performance—the carbonized wood, structural delicacy, and transparent connections all testify to a holistic environmental awareness.
Conclusion: A Refined Coastal Dialogue
In NB Residence, Jacobsen Arquitetura achieves a seamless balance of minimalism, landscape sensitivity, and structural elegance. The home does more than occupy its site—it dialogues with it. With deliberate restraint and bold material choices, the project becomes a vivid expression of Brazilian modernism attuned to its tropical setting.
NB Residence stands not just as a residence but as a lived art piece—a timeless, breathing architecture that respects context while advancing contemporary living.
