Architects: messina | rivas
Area: 211 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Federico Cairoli, messina | rivas
Arquitetura: Francisco Rivas, Rodrigo Messina
Civil Construction: Ribeiro Construçoes
City: Itupeva
Country: Brazil
A house in ruins on the outskirts of Itupeva, 80km from São Paulo, has been transformed by messina | rivas into two residences for local residents. Situated on a 19th-century farm, the design harmonizes the existing ruin with new architectural elements, creating a living space that blends historical significance with modern functionality.
![Casa-Em-Ruinas-Messina-Rivas_2 (1) House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_2-1.jpg)
The ruined house is situated on the outskirts of Itupeva, 80km from São Paulo, on a 19th-century farm. The project aimed to renovate this colonial stone ruin and transform it into two residences for local residents.
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 1 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_1-3-1140x641.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 2 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/planta-5-1140x806.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 3 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_1-1-1140x641.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 4 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/corte-dd-4-1140x806.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 5 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_2-1140x760.jpg)
How to inhabit a ruin was a fundamental question. Initially seen as an abandoned construction, the ruin was later recognized for its existing habitabilities, such as plant life. This led to an architectural approach that integrates the new construction with the ruin, making architecture resurface from the existing structure.
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 6 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_3-2.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 7 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_2-4.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 8 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_3-1.jpg)
A century-old rubber tree with aerial roots located in front of the ruin guided the creation of a central void, functioning as a courtyard between two autonomous houses. The strong stone walls of the ruin distinctly mark the divisions between exterior and interior spaces.
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 9 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_5-1140x912.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 10 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/corte-bb-2-1140x806.jpg)
To make the ruin habitable, the architects created the conditions for a roof by utilizing the existing structure. A stone wall level was established to mark horizontality, from which a tie beam was constructed. This consolidated the walls, making them a foundation for a wooden roof built with eucalyptus from the surrounding trees.
![Casa-Em-Ruinas-Messina-Rivas_1 (2) House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_1-2.jpg)
The project emphasizes the duality between the stone’s weight and the wood’s lightness, reinforced by the contrast between opaque walls and roofs with openings. This creates a dynamic interplay, akin to a cloud hovering over a mountain.
![Casa-Em-Ruinas-Messina-Rivas_1 (6) House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_1-6.jpg)
Project Gallery
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 11 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_28-1140x855.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 12 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_27-1140x855.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 13 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_26-1140x855.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 14 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_4-4.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 15 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_3-4-1140x760.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 16 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_1-6-1140x485.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 17 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_2-6-1140x760.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 18 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_2-1-1140x760.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 19 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_1-1140x760.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 20 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_2-2-1140x760.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 21 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_4-3.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 22 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_4-1140x641.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 23 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_3-1140x760.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 24 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_4-1.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 25 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_2-5-1140x912.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 26 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_3-3.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 27 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_1-2.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 28 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_1-4.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 9 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_5-1140x912.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 30 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_1-5.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 31 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_4-2.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 1 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_1-3-1140x641.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 7 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_2-4.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 5 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_2-1140x760.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 8 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_3-1.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 36 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_2-3.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 6 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_3-2.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 3 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/casa-em-ruinas-messina-rivas_1-1-1140x641.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 39 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/corte-aa-1-1140x806.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 10 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/corte-bb-2-1140x806.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 41 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/corte-cc-3-1140x806.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 4 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/corte-dd-4-1140x806.jpg)
![House In Ruins / Messina | Rivas 2 House in ruins / messina | rivas](https://www.architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/planta-5-1140x806.jpg)
Project Location
Address: Itupeva, State of São Paulo, Brazil
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.