June 28, 2026 | VOL 18
CASA MUXARABI
words Onur Baştürk
photos Fernando Guerra
Working from the inland city of Franca in São Paulo state, mf+arquitetos approaches architecture through measured gestures rather than grand statements. Founded by Mariana Garcia Oliveira and Filipi Oliveira, the practice is shaped by clear geometries, honest materials, and a consistent dialogue between interior space and landscape.
Casa Muxarabi reflects this attitude with quiet confidence. Named after the lattice screens that filter light throughout the home, the house is composed through courtyards, shadows, and permeable layers that shift with the day. It is an architecture that does not compete with nature, but lives alongside it.
THE MUXARABI WAS INDEED THE STARTING POINT OF THE PROJECT
The house takes its name from the muxarabi — the lattice screens that filter light throughout the project. Was this element the starting point for the design? How did the idea first take shape?
The muxarabi was indeed the starting point of the project. From it, we structured the entire logic of light, shadow, and visual permeability throughout the house. The idea emerged during the very first site visits, when we understood that filtering light would be essential to creating an intimate, soft atmosphere that changes constantly over the course of the day.
Casa Muxarabi is arranged as a linear pavilion, divided by a long central courtyard. What was the guiding intention behind this spatial composition?
The decision to design a linear pavilion divided by a central courtyard stemmed from the desire to create a continuous flow while simultaneously establishing an axis of pause and contemplation. The courtyard functions as the heart of the project. It organizes circulation, provides natural ventilation, and reinforces the presence of nature as a structuring element of daily life in the house.
Red hardwoods, solid walls and a light, minimal roof come together to express the warmth of the earth. How did you approach the material palette to achieve this gentle sense of grounding?
The material palette was conceived to convey warmth and a strong connection to the ground. The red hardwood and solid walls reinforce a sense of permanence and protection, while the light roof counterbalances this weight with delicacy. We sought a balance between warm textures and more neutral surfaces, creating an environment that asserts itself without losing serenity.
You’ve described the house as appearing “like a fine line drawn between sky and earth” when seen from afar. What does this quiet silhouette represent for you?
The fine line we describe between sky and earth represents our ambition to create a quiet architecture that inserts itself respectfully into the landscape. It is a house that does not compete with its surroundings, but rather engages in dialogue with them, as if it were gently resting on the site and asserting its presence in a subtle way.
SIMPLE GESTURES, POWERFUL IMPACT
The relationship between inside and out is a recurring theme in your work. Which architectural decisions were key to creating that continuity here?
The continuity between interior and exterior is the result of several key decisions: generous openings, fluid circulation, the use of similar materials indoors and outdoors, and direct integration with the central courtyard. We sought to minimize physical and visual barriers, allowing the space to dissolve naturally between built and natural environments.
The furniture choices feel controlled, timeless, and deliberately unobtrusive—allowing the landscape to take the lead. How did you shape this interior curation?
The furniture curation was guided by the intention to create an environment that complements the architecture without overwhelming it. We chose pieces with clean lines, natural materials, and a discreet presence. The goal was always to allow the landscape to remain the protagonist, while the interior reinforces a sense of calm and timelessness.
Where does Casa Muxarabi sit within your broader architectural practice? What has the project taught you or revealed to you along the way?
Within our practice, Casa Muxarabi represents a deepening of our pursuit of an essential, honest architecture fully integrated with its context. The project taught us about the power of simple gestures, such as controlling light, opening a courtyard, and working with natural materials. It was a process that reinforced our belief that architecture can be both poetic and functional, discreet yet deeply meaningful.
