The thirteen meter slope forms BIRI’s Casa Castela
BIRI’s Casa Castela is a residential project in Nova Lima, Brazilshaped by the steep topography of its location and the presence of an unfinished pre-existing structure. Located on a plot characterized by an elevation difference of thirteen meters between the street and the house level, the project turns the vertical conditions of the site into the defining element of the architectural experience.
Before the design process began, the architects helped the clients select the site due to its relationship with the surrounding landscape, accessibility and proximity to the family’s daily urban routines. The plot included partially completed construction and an approved municipal permit, which required the project to begin with a detailed survey of the existing structure, an updated topographical analysis and a revision of the zoning plan.
Rather than minimizing the impact of steep terrain, the project integrates it directly into the traffic strategy. An elevator and elevated metal walkway connect the street level to the entrance of the house, turning the transition along the slope into a gradual sequence of movement and observation. This arrival system also establishes a recognizable architectural element within the local context. At the bottom of the site, reinforced concrete retaining walls carve out parking spaces on the ground. A similar intervention at the rear of the property creates a sheltered courtyard separated from the natural terrain, helping to reduce moisture transfer while introducing a sheltered outdoor space.
Casa Castela is formed by a steep elevation of 13 meters | all images from Manoel Sa
Layered Living Organizes Public and Private Zones
The spatial organization, developed by BIRI’s architecture teamthere follows a progressive division between collective and private domains. Upstairs includes the private program, featuring a master suite and two children’s bedrooms connected by a shared bathroom. The ground floor hosts communal functions such as living room, dining room, studio, table tennis room and kitchen. Service areas, including storage and laundry, occupy the western edge of the plan, allowing the main living spaces to maintain a continuous relationship with the outdoors.
A staircase composed of steel and reinforced concrete connects the levels internally, reflecting the multi-level structural systems used throughout the project. Building materials follow local building traditions, including reinforced concrete frames, ceramic masonry walls, aluminum window systems and ceramic roof tiles. Steel elements such as the pergola, lift structure and walkway are finished in earthy tones that evoke Nova Lima’s iron-rich landscape.
The interiors extend the artistic character of the home through paintings, canvases and personal items integrated throughout the living spaces. Lighting is used sparingly, emphasizing the spatial organization, material surfaces and selected interior elements without dominating the atmosphere of the house.
an elevator connects the street level to the elevated entrance
a metal walkway becomes part of the arrival sequence
