Villa Itaúna in Rio: Where Architecture Floats Between Light, Water, and Garden

Perched on the verdant slopes of Rio de Janeiro—where urban density often leaves little room to breathe—Villa Itaúna emerges as a masterclass in subtle expansion and harmonious dialogue between contemporary architecture and tropical nature.

Originally designed by the legendary Oscar Niemeyer, this villa has been reimagined by Siqueira+Azul Studio, who not only revived its spirit but also crafted a new narrative where space constantly engages with the surrounding landscape.

By acquiring the adjacent lot, the architects enabled the original structure to extend into a sculpted garden—an interplay of crisp horizontal and vertical lines that blur the boundary between architecture and nature. Hovering above the pool and greenery is a new leisure annex, designed to appear as if suspended midair—an architectural gesture that conveys both lightness and refinement.

Designed as three autonomous volumes, the structures are interconnected by walkways, staircases, and pathways, creating a fluidity of movement and a rhythm of exploration. The interiors have been redefined to support a new way of living, centered around privacy, serenity, and understated luxury.

The façades have been transformed with large rotating panels—a system that allows the seamless control of transparency, light, and ventilation. Crafted from an iron mesh grid, they offer both flexibility and presence. Integrated bench seating along the outer edges further reinforces the fusion between indoor and outdoor life.

At the villa’s heart, a central oculus—a circular skylight—acts as both a light well and a poetic vertical connection to the upper courtyard. A spiraling staircase leads up to a glass observatory, turning the space into a vertical experience of light, shadow, and framed vistas.

The leisure annex showcases a deliberate use of natural materials—stone, concrete, and wood—subtly distinguishing areas without disrupting aesthetic flow. Here, walls don’t divide; rather, changes in level and tone define zones, creating an immersive sense of openness and architectural freedom.

Villa Itaúna is not merely a restoration. It is a declaration—that luxury can be quiet, yet commanding. It exists here in the play of light, in the balance of volume and void, and in the courage to redefine space not through spectacle, but through intent.