Brazilian studio Bloco Arquitetos has designed a spacious family home comprising irregularly stacked boxes, which form a series of courtyards and terraces.

Totalling 950 square metres, the House of Courtyards is located in a residential part of Brasília, the federal capital of Brazil. For a flat site lacking vegetation, the team conceived a cluster of stark, rectilinear volumes that push outward and pull inward. Portions of the home cantilever over the site and form sheltered areas.

"The project was designed using an orthogonal grid of 3.65 by 3.65 metres, placed diagonally in relation to the lot," said local firm Bloco Arquitetos in a project description.

Exterior walls are made of white-painted ceramic brick and vast expanses of glass. Recessed windows are shaded by short eaves that help reduce solar heat gain. The home's primary openings are situated on the north – a vantage point that allows views of Brasília's city centre, located about 10 kilometres away. This elevation also overlooks a verdant yard with a swimming pool.

House of Courtyards is surrounded by paved surfaces, stretches of grass and young trees. Walkways are lined with lush grasses and flowering shrubs – all of which are native to the region.

"The landscape design makes use of the 'cerrado' vegetation (Brazilian savannah) that is typical in this part of the country," the team said.

An extensive programme was distributed across two le...