- Project: RT Residence
- Architect: Jacobsen Arquitetura
- Location: Brazil, Laranjeiras, Rio de Janeiro
- Year: 2014
- Area: 470 m2
- Photography: Pedro Kok
A House That Appears One Story
RT Residence is conceived as a two-story home with a visual trick: it presents itself as a single-story structure from the street. To achieve this, the primary living level is raised by 1.5 meters, allowing for a half-buried lower floor that remains naturally lit and ventilated.
The lower level contains service and leisure zones—such as a home theater, gym, and sauna—while the upper level houses the social and private spaces. The upper is divided into two parallel rectangular volumes, slightly offset, bridged by a continuous roof canopy / overhang that also defines circulation.
From the street side, the building seems to hover: parts are detached from the ground, creating the impression of lightness. Inside, the living room is double-height; its floor meets the landscape to offer vertical spatial drama.
Roof, Form & Pool
Though local regulation required a sloped ceramic roof, the configuration was designed so that from the outside the roof appears flat. The wooden overhangs and glass façades mask the slope. The slight angle becomes perceptible only from within.
The swimming pool is triangular in shape, its form dictated by the plot geometry and roof limits: a sculptural edge hugging the contours of the architecture.
Materiality & Structural System
RT Residence employs a mix of robust and refined materials:
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Reinforced concrete forms the foundations, lower half-buried floor, and core structural elements.
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Steel beams and columns support the upper level, enabling greater spans and visual lightness.
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Wooden roof structure frames the sloping roof.
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Finishes include charred wood façades, travertine marble surfaces, natural wood lining, and large glazing that helps dissolve boundaries between interior and exterior.
The charred wood façade gives the house a modern, resilient skin that blends with the tropical surroundings.
Light & Spatial Experience
RT Residence masterfully uses daylight as a design tool. The raised volume, vertical transitions, and glazing strategies channel natural light deep into the lower level. The overhangs regulate solar gain, and the elongated roof canopy also provides sheltered outdoor circulation that feels semi-outdoor.
By offsetting volumes and creating transitional spaces beneath the overhang, the architecture crafts a balance between openness, protection, and material expression.
Sustainability & Performance
Although not explicitly described as a “green project,” the design demonstrates passive climate responsiveness:
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The lower floor is embedded and shaded, reducing heat gain.
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Overhangs and façades buffer direct sun exposure.
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Natural ventilation is enabled via openness and spatial arrangement.
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Durable materials like charred wood and travertine require minimal maintenance—a practical choice for tropical climates.
Conclusion
RT Residence exemplifies how architectural cleverness can reshape perception. Jacobsen Arquitetura has created a house that reads as a modest pavilion from the street, yet reveals layered complexity within. Through material precision, structural finesse, and spatial craft, the dwelling achieves both refinement and restraint.
In Laranjeiras, RT Residence stands as a quiet yet powerful signature: minimalist, grounded, and perceptively dynamic.
