Interview about Kuara Hotel, winner of the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award 2020
Kuara is made for those that aim for rest and relaxing integrated to nature. A reference in contemporary design, culture, and gastronomy in Brazil. A project that creates a modern concept of a Brazilian architecture. A private sanctuary, becoming memory from the Brazilian identity, reminding of what’s more precious: the rich Brazilian nature, as generous mother, provide the primary foundations of survival, in a fascinating invitation to a healthy relation with the environment, settled in respect and harmony with nature.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe Tupi-Guarani culture inspired the concept of Kûara from its very name, which means “sun.” This heritage guided the creation of a Brazilian, natural, and sensorial architecture that celebrates our origins and the bond between nature and spirituality.
The greatest challenge was balancing luxury and environmental preservation. We maintained the soul of the place, part of the existing structure, and all the native vegetation. The project doesn’t impose itself — it listens to the land, returning respect for the landscape in built form.
The woodwork, executed by artisans connected to Zanine Caldas, was essential to expressing the idea of contemporary Brazilian identity. This collaboration brought texture, authenticity, and a dialogue between the handcrafted and the modern, defining the hotel’s character as sophisticated, authentic, and distinctly Brazilian.
The relationship with nature was always the starting point. We sought an architecture that rested on the topography and allowed itself to be guided by the site’s natural elements. The Atlantic Forest, the mangrove, and the sea shaped the design, turning the hotel into an organic extension of the landscape.
I sought to reinterpret Brazilian building techniques with sophistication and lightness. The intention was to merge vernacular methods with contemporary solutions while respecting the essence of Brazilian architecture. This balance between the simple and the refined is what makes the project both authentic and timeless.
The sound experience was also considered from the very beginning. We wanted the sound of the sea and the birds to be part of the atmosphere, creating a sensorial environment that enhances the feeling of immersion in the landscape.
The Mucugê River and the mangrove defined the layout and positioning of the complex. They were natural references that guided the design and ensured genuine integration between architecture and environment, shaping visual axes, flows, and the site plan itself.
The seven years of development allowed the project to mature alongside the place. There was time to understand the climate, the light, and local dynamics — factors that were progressively incorporated into the architectural decisions.
The combination of local woods with Italian stone reflects the pursuit of balance between the natural and the technological. This mix creates a tactile and visual experience that reinforces the hotel’s identity and the dialogue between the artisanal and the contemporary.
I believe Kûara represents a new perspective on sustainable luxury: comfort aligned with nature and simplicity. It’s a project that values human experience and connection with the environment more than ostentation. I hope it inspires other projects to find beauty in what is essential and authentic.
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