RIO hotel

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2010

architecture

Located on the edge of the vibrant Santa Teresa district — a charming neighborhood with a village-like atmosphere, characterized by grand colonial villas — this new hotel development forms a contemporary extension of an existing mansion.

Despite its scale and 101 rooms, the hotel seeks to integrate as seamlessly as possible into its surroundings. The proportions and rhythm of the historic villa, together with the presence of the surrounding tropical forest, form the foundation of the architectural language.

The project is conceived as a composition of eight individual volumes, playfully positioned along the hillside. Their dimensions relate directly to those of the existing mansion, allowing the complex to blend naturally into both the landscape and the urban fabric.

Through the use of local materials, such as timber and rammed earth walls, the building achieves both a warm, tactile character and a strong commitment to ecological sustainability and a respectful relationship with its environment.