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Concrete Jungle - Tropical Architecture and its Surprising Origins
Tropical Architecture and its Surprising Origins in Concrete Jungle by gestalten
The origin stories of tropical modernism are myriad and complex, told differently by scholars than they are by politicians or practitioners. Mendes da Rocha, for instance, tended to reject terminology applied from outside, especially the phrase “Paulista brutalism” that critics often used to talk about his structurally daring work in concrete. Find out more about tropical architecture in Concrete Jungle.
The Aviv House in Tulum, Mexico is a project by Co-Lab Design Office featured in Concrete Jungle. It’s no easy feat creating a living space that can withstand the hot and humid temperatures of Tulum. Yet, this private home, located a short distance from the beach, overcame the challenge through the use of locally produced concrete made with limestone.
Inspired by the surrounding houses painted in ochre colors and made of adobe and wood, RP Arquitectos decided to use concrete pigmented with earth from the site to design the Zoncuantla Apartments. This fascinating project is featured in Concrete Jungle, a book about tropical architecture by gestalten.
Above all else, Paulo Mendes da Rocha was devoted to public works projects. He was frequently quoted as saying, “All space is public. The only private space that you can imagine is in the human mind.” It is in this context that he became known for his residential masterpieces. In southern São Paulo, Mendes da Rocha took an approach rooted in both creativity and rationality when designing one of his famed concrete forms for the English expatriate James Francis King.
While northern practitioners of modernism often used technological advancements to bend nature to their will, their southern counterparts adopted a different tack. Niemeyer and Mendes da Rocha, for instance, understood that inviting the outside in helped to ameliorate their warmer climates and the bustling urban environments where their work was often based. Evocative of Bo Bardi’s Glass House, Weinfeld’s recent project, Grecia House, is characterized by its kinship with the plot’s existing trees.
Azul House by Studio MK27 seems to float above its surrounding landscape in an environmentally protected area. This beautiful project is featured in Concrete Jungle by gestalten.
An example of concrete houses in Concrete Jungle by gestalten. Floor-to-ceiling pivoting glass doors provide here natural light and garden views while allowing access to a private pool.
Wide open windows allow the inhabitants of Padang Linjong Residence to always indulge in the location’s tropical living vibe, and huge, airy spaces allow air and light to circulate throughout the day. Discover more about this project in Concrete Jungle.
An inner courtyard with a pool and a lush garden at the Weekend House in downtown São Paulo by spbr arquitetos.
A deep respect for place is what informs this raw concrete villa set harmoniously within the lush foliage of Costa Rica’s tropical jungle. Inspired by the work of Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Art Villa is both rough and luxurious, and purposefully detailed. This project is featured in Concrete Jungle, a book published by gestalten.
Among the rice fields on the southern coast of the island, the large structural concrete slabs of this brutalist structure somehow blend in with the tropical vicinity. Used to shade the double-height living room—the heart of the house—the slabs are a natural alternative to air-conditioning, keeping the space cool without wasting energy. This incredible house is featured in Concrete Jungle.
Inside the mesophilic forest along the old road between Xalapa and Coatepec, the polygonal shape of the Zoncuantla Apartments emphasizes the excellent panoramic views of the area from each of its apartments. Inspiring contemplation of the environment, the ground-floor apartment has a thriving garden of endemic vegetation while the upper levels each boast their own terraces. Find out more about this Mexican project in Concrete Jungle.
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Concrete Jungle

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Tropical Architecture and its Surprising Origins
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Tropical Architecture and its Surprising Origins

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