Large stones conceal a single column supporting the upper level of this concrete house near Porto Alegre, Brazil, configured to protect the roots of a centennial fig tree.
Designed by local architects Stemmer Rodrigues, the Casa Figueira ? or Fig House ? is a modernist-style concrete house in Eldorado do Sul, a residential community that sits across the Guaiaba Lake from Porto Alegre.
Fig House looks as if it is supported by natural stones
The home's main feature is the overhanging second floor, which defines the driveway and forms a passage through to the back yard.
This windowless concrete volume is made to appear as if supported by natural stones that contrast the facade's smooth finish.
Sliding glass walls offer views towards a nearby canal This formation conceals a single column, which was placed to avoid disrupting the roots of a nearby fig tree that lends the house its name.
"The composition of the front facade is a harmony of contrasts between the rigidity of the concrete and the large rock that simulates the support of the volume and hides the pillar, paying homage to a strong element of the regional landscape," explained Stemmer Rodrigues.
The features minimal interiors to complement its modernist form
The only other elements visible on the facade are the front door, which is marked by a curved concrete wall, and the wooden garage door.
On the ground floor, Stemmer Rodrigues laid out an open-concept kitchen, living and dining room to face views of the tr...