Sabella Arquitetura's Casa Colmeia features gridded timber roof in Brazilian landscape

Sabella Arquitetura has completed Casa Colmeia, a 1,600-square-metre residence in Porto Feliz, Brazil, featuring a distinctive gridded timber roof. The home occupies a sloping wooded site outside São Paulo, organized across two levels with an L-shaped plan that responds to the trapezoidal plot's challenging southern orientation. A glued-laminated timber roof structured around a 90-by-90-centimeter grid shelters both interiors and external terraces, with openings for skylights above internal courtyards. The design incorporates tropical gardens by landscape designer Treliz Paisagismo, along with folding shutters and external blinds to shade the largely glazed exterior. Interior spaces include a wing of bedrooms in the south-facing section and a large living, dining, and kitchen area to the east, separated by concrete volumes containing a fireplace, bathroom, and wine storage. A central corridor passes between internal gardens, connecting the wings and leading to a lower level with guest suites, staff facilities, a games room, sauna, gym, and technical spaces. The exposed timber roof is supported by thin steel columns and complemented by stone, wood floors, and exposed concrete. Photography was handled by Fran Parente. Other recent São Paulo residential projects include Grama House by Studio Arthur Casas and a beach house by Estúdio Rossi Arquitetos.