Brazilian Family Creates Modern Retreat: Living Together and Apart

In Brazil, furniture designer Etel Carmona returns to her roots by building a modern mountain compound with her adult children near her childhood home. They decided on smaller dwellings to preserve nature and collaborated with local artisans. This project embodies a blend of traditional and contemporary design, forming an ideal family retreat.

In Southeastern Brazil, furniture designer Etel Carmona, aged 78, sought tranquility in the Serra da Mantiqueira mountains. Guided by her son, Nelo Augusto, 49, she arrived at a scenic plot near her childhood home in Sapucaí-Mirim. After staying overnight in a primitive two-story house, Carmona felt an immediate connection to the landscape, proclaiming, “I needed to have a home there. Because I have a close relationship with this landscape.” Thus began her mission to build a retreat for her family.

Carmona’s journey back to this area had been long; relocating to São Paulo in her teens, she later moved to Louveira in the 1980s while establishing a woodworking atelier. Here, she crafted contemporary furniture using traditional joinery methods. In 1993, she launched a design studio that her daughter, Lissa, now leads, expanding it to include pieces by famed Brazilian designers like Lina Bo Bardi.

Although Lissa participated in the design of their mountain compound, it took her over four months to visit the site. Initially skeptical, she proposed constructing a series of smaller dwellings instead of one large house, preserving the natural beauty of the area. Collaborating with local artisans, she ultimately produced a design that respected the environment and the existing ecosystem.

The architecture plan, finalized in 2021, featured a three-bedroom home for Carmona and her daughter, Camilla. Echoing traditional Portuguese farmhouses, it included a unique window structure in the living area. Descending stone stairs led to a spacious shared family pavilion adorned with locally sourced materials, which Lissa envisioned would naturally age over time.

Lissa and Nelo Augusto’s shared dwelling, composed of four bedrooms, highlights modern architecture intertwined with nature. With a rooftop garden designed by landscape architect André Paoliello, this home promotes a sensory connection to the outside, further enhanced by the eucalyptus trees nearby. Lissa reflected, “on foggy mornings, the central pavilion becomes part of the brume, something indefinite,” capturing the ethereal essence of this misty retreat.

In summary, Etel Carmona’s mountain compound represents a harmonious blend of heritage, artistry, and nature. With careful planning and collaborations with local craftsmen, the project has successfully established a family sanctuary that respects and enhances its dramatic setting. Through her children’s involvement, Carmona not only revives her roots but also innovates contemporary living that resonates with her cherished landscape.

Original Source: www.nytimes.com