Studio Guilherme Torres | owl's house london.

Monolithic and undeniably modern, the building stands as two low linear brickwork blocks supporting an upper volume of concrete. Between, water and landscaping provide a refuge and, with the rather wonderful giant Texan plume grass, give the house an ethereal quality.

São Paulo based architect Guilherme Torres’ own house features a chequered wood screen or brise soleil called muxarabie, a classic feature in Eastern architecture, assimilated by the Portuguese and later brought to Brazil. Acting as a wooden curtain to allow air flow, it also filters the light, offers privacy to the inhabitants and adds security.

The external elements (screen, brickwork) can also be read internally. Other materials are kept simple – wood and stone floors, white walls and dark metal framed windows. The loose furniture is a combination of the architect’s own design, pieces by known Brazilian designers (Sérgio Rodrigues and Carlos Motta), and international pieces – Tom Dixon lighting, for example. Brazilian in style and quite jovial, the decorations are either neutral or fabulous shades of blue…