Bright yellow metal grates that take cues from a mango tree detail the facade of this apartment building in Manaus, Brazil designed by local studio Laurent Troost Architectures.
Manga-Vila Santa Thereza is a housing complex in Manaus, a city in Brazil situated along the banks of the Negro River near the Amazon rainforest. It comprises 12 units, three of each type, studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom, spread across two buildings that are connected by a small courtyard.

Yellow grates detail the east and west faces of the rectangular buildings and protrude from their rooftops. The bright colour used on the grid-like material draws from a mango tree located on the site.
"On the facades most exposed to the sun (east and west) a metal grid was installed that filters the light and the views, creating a yellowish halo in line with the mango tree that originated the project concept," said Laurent Troost Architectures.
The metal grating filters light that passes through reducing solar incidence and acting as a mechanism for cooling the residential units and allowing for cross ventilation throughout the building.
It is among a series of passive design strategies included in the 1,039-square-metre building, which accommodates a mix of residents, including students, single people, young couples and families.

Other energy-efficient practices are photovoltaic roof panels that produce light for the common areas and the gap located between the volumes, which red...