From a distance, Jungle House resembles a concrete box jutting from its rocky slope near São Paulo, Brazil. The architects took a minimally invasive approach, anchoring the house in the mountain wall and supporting it with two concrete pillars, rather than removing trees en masse. In an inversion of typical residential design, the deck lies not on top but below – a cool, shady outdoor space amid the humid rainforest – while the recreation area sits on the roof, above the bedrooms, to align the lounge and outdoor pool with the forest canopy.

Project: Jungle House

Location: Guarujá, Brazil

Firm: Studio MK27, Brazil

Team: Samanta Cafardo, Marcio Kogan and Diana Radomysler with Carlos Costa, Laura Guedes, Fernanda Neiva, Eline Ostyn, Oswaldo Pessano, Mariana Ruzante and Mariana Simas