'B+B House' by Studio MK27 (Marcio Kogan)

Vertical circulation conceived as an architectural promenade has been a recurring theme in Studio mk27’s projects since 2010, appearing in works such as Ramp House (2011–2015) and Fio House (2010–2015). In House B+B, this idea takes form in a striking 25-meter-long ramp that serves as the main access to the social areas. Located on the eastern side of the house, the ramp is enclosed by hollowed-out concrete elements designed specifically for this project. These perforated blocks generate a dynamic play of light and shadow throughout the day and across the seasons, while also providing protection against the elements.

This interstitial passageway—neither fully interior nor exterior—extends the transition between the garden and the built space. Its gentle 11% slope invites a slow, ceremonial ascent, altering the perception of time as one moves through the architecture. The solution evokes the legacy of Brazilian modernism, which embraced ramps as a poetic means of vertical circulation and as an embodiment of Le Corbusier’s concept of the architectural promenade. The latticework references another modernist invention: the cobogó, developed in the 1930s as a climatic device suited to the tropical environment, providing shade while allowing natural ventilation.

Unlike traditional layouts, House B+B inverts the programmatic distribution between floors. The bedrooms are located on the ground floor, opening directly to the garden, while the social spaces occupy the upper level. The result is a living environment deeply connected to nature, yet elevated in its experience of space.

The social area on the first floor is open and fluid, free of structural interruptions, allowing flexible furniture arrangements and visual continuity. A 3.5-meter sliding door fully integrates the kitchen with the dining area, encouraging interaction between spaces. The kitchen counter faces the ramp, benefitting from filtered natural light that passes through the hollow concrete elements, making the room luminous and inviting.

Wooden louvers on the façade of the bedroom level provide solar control and ensure optimal thermal performance. The raw materials—exposed concrete and natural wood—create a living architecture that transforms subtly over time, reflecting the changing light and weather.

Ultimately, House B+B embodies a delicate balance between intimacy and openness. It is a home that offers warmth and comfort for everyday life, while remaining a refined setting for small social gatherings—a contemporary reinterpretation of Brazil’s modernist domestic tradition.