Porch as the protagonist: veranda defines this house in Trancoso

Located in the village of Trancoso, in southern Bahia, near Itapororoca beach, this house represents a synthesis between structural precision, bioclimatic efficiency, and respect for the tropical landscape. Designed by the Brasília-based firm BLOCO Arquitetos (partners Daniel Mangabeira, Henrique Coutinho, and Matheus Seco, and part of the CASACOR Brasília lineup), the 860 sqm project takes advantage of the natural topography of a 15 m high slope to be subtly integrated into the Atlantic Forest, enjoying privileged views of the Atlantic Ocean and favoring cross ventilation as the main strategy for passive thermal comfort amid the humid tropical climate.

Projeto de Bloco Arquitetos. (Joana França/CASACOR)

The site strategy was carefully thought out based on the solar orientation and the volumetry of the land: the residence was positioned in the rear portion of the plot so that the view from the entrance would expose only one floor, protecting the west facade from direct exposure to the setting sun and discreetly integrating the building into the preserved surroundings.

Projeto de Bloco Arquitetos. (Joana França/CASACOR)

On the other hand, the east facade clearly exposes both floors and reinforces the use of the porched veranda, which surrounds the entire construction and protects the bedrooms facing the ocean, maximizing both the contemplation of the horizon and the use of sea breezes.

Projeto de Bloco Arquitetos. (Joana França/CASACOR)

The structural system of the house is defined by a rigorous orthogonal grid with a modulation of 3.6 x 3.6 m of Glued Laminated Pine Timber (GLT). The choice of laminated wood dialogues both with sustainability principles and with high technical requirements of mechanical resistance and dimensional stability, essential qualities for the conservation and performance of the building in the face of the humidity typical of the Bahian coastal region.

Projeto de Bloco Arquitetos. (Joana França/CASACOR)

By adopting the porched veranda as a central element, the architecture reclaims and reinterprets a typology deeply rooted in the history of Brazilian colonial architecture, renowned for the rural manor houses and the old cocoa plantations of the south of the state. Here, the veranda acts as a continuous space of transition between the interior and the exterior, fulfilling fundamental roles of shading, protection against heavy rains, and encouragement of outdoor living, connecting the contemporary work to the ecosystem and the cultural memory of Bahia.