- Project: Osler House
- Architect: Studio MK27
- Location: Brazil, Brasília
- Year: 2009
- Area: 270 m2
- Photography: Pedro Vannucchi
A Contemporary Tribute to Brazilian Modernism
The Osler House, designed by Studio MK27, stands at the very tip of one of Paranoá Lake’s estuaries in Brasília. Completed in 2009, this 2,906 sq ft residence reinterprets the principles of Brazilian modernist architecture while responding to its natural surroundings with minimalism, elegance, and functionality.
Two distinct rectangular volumes define the house: a grounded concrete base and a light, transparent glass pavilion above. This bold yet simple composition creates a powerful dialogue between solidity and openness, privacy and connection, structure and landscape.
Site & Context – Living at the Edge of Paranoá Lake
Brasília, with its modernist DNA shaped by Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa, provides the architectural backdrop for the Osler House. The home’s location—on the edge of Paranoá Lake—offered the architects both a challenge and an opportunity.
The design embraces the lake as a constant visual presence. Large openings and sliding partitions dissolve the boundaries between interior and exterior, ensuring that water, sky, and vegetation remain integral to the daily life of the residents.
Architectural Concept – Two Intersecting Volumes
The Osler House is structured as two rectangular blocks stacked perpendicularly:
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Lower Block: Built of concrete and timber, the ground-level volume houses the main suite, an additional bedroom, utility spaces, and garage. Wooden brise-soleil wrap the façade, filtering sunlight and offering privacy while allowing cross ventilation. Retractable partitions further blur the line between garden, pool, and indoor living.
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Upper Block: Floating above, supported partly on the lower prism and partly on pilotis, this level contains the living room, kitchen, dining area, and office. Entirely wrapped in glass, the elevated pavilion becomes a transparent frame that captures panoramic views of Paranoá Lake while shading the deck and pool below.
This composition creates an architectural narrative where solidity anchors the home while lightness and transparency open it to the horizon.
Materials & Design Language
Studio MK27’s attention to materiality enhances the experience of the Osler House:
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Concrete provides strength, permanence, and an architectural nod to Brasília’s brutalist heritage.
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Wooden brise-soleil introduce warmth and texture while controlling sun exposure.
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Glass curtain walls maximize natural light, create seamless transparency, and allow the landscape to become part of the interiors.
Inside, the finishes are minimal yet refined. The interplay of exposed concrete, wood, and natural light creates interiors that feel warm without excess decoration.
Living Between Indoors & Outdoors
The residence’s open-plan living is centered around a fluid relationship with the outdoors. Sliding glass panels retract completely, transforming the social spaces into shaded verandas that extend towards the pool and gardens.
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Ground floor: Private and sheltered, with strong connections to the garden.
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Upper floor: Airy, open, and transparent, with views extending to the horizon.
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Pool deck & solarium: Outdoor extensions that reflect Brasília’s tradition of combining architecture with leisure.
The Athos Bulcão panel at the foyer—a custom tile artwork designed for the project—adds a layer of cultural richness, tying the house to Brasília’s iconic artistic and architectural history.
Sustainability & Climate Response
The Osler House was conceived with passive design strategies that respond to Brasília’s climate:
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Natural cross ventilation enabled by sliding doors and permeable wooden panels.
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Deep overhangs and pilotis that provide shade and reduce heat gain.
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Filtered daylighting through brise-soleil, minimizing the need for artificial lighting.
This careful balance between form and function results in a low-maintenance, climate-conscious home perfectly suited to its tropical context.
A Lifestyle of Elegance & Simplicity
Osler House exemplifies Studio MK27’s philosophy: to create architecture that is both minimal and emotionally rich. Despite its modest footprint, the residence offers an expansive living experience by emphasizing spatial fluidity and constant visual engagement with nature.
The pool deck, the solarium above, and the seamless transitions between rooms embody a lifestyle that is casual yet refined—a retreat that celebrates Brasília’s unique blend of modernism and landscape.
Conclusion – A Modern Brazilian Masterpiece
The Osler House by Studio MK27 is more than a home—it is an architectural statement. By distilling the essence of Brazilian modernism into two pure geometric volumes, the architects have crafted a residence that is timeless, functional, and deeply connected to its site.
With its balance of concrete solidity and glass transparency, privacy and openness, cultural heritage and modern innovation, Osler House continues to stand as one of Brazil’s most iconic contemporary residences.
