A Picturesque Property for Friesians in São Paulo

Welcome to an equestrian oasis in lovely Porto Feliz, situated in the countryside of São Paulo.

This stunning brick and stone barn set on a sprawling property is a collaboration between two talented female architects, Diana Brooks of Arquitetura Equestre and Rossana Cerello. Completed in 2019, Haras Fente was carefully designed for the client’s magnificent Friesian horses, focusing on functionally without neglecting aesthetics.

Photography by Zeh Castedo

The grounds feature low maintenance landscaping throughout, surrounded by mature trees. The spacious driveway features interlocking pavement with a defined curb preventing grass from ever invading the bricks.

Making An Entrance

The project truly begins at the statement worthy entrance gates, reflecting the welcoming and sophisticated essence of the property. Upon entering, a driveway flanked by palm trees and paddocks leads visitors to the stable with glimpses of the beautiful horses as you approach the barn.

Every detail of the property’s color palette was considered for balancing nature with easy maintenance. The designers opted for paddocks with black fencing, which minimizes the need for frequent painting and blends with the landscape, as white fences, in addition to demanding frequent painting, also stand out from the surroundings.

The covered round pen offers an ideal controlled environment to work the horses on excessively sunny or rainy days. It allows young horses to be lunged in a controlled environment rather than the track.

Mainly utilizing brick and stone, these construction materials are durable and require low maintenance, allowing a welcoming and timeless feeling to invoke when approaching the barn. The beautifully designed sliding doors at the stable’s entrance allow the circulation of air and natural light. All of the stalls have individual exterior windows allowing the horses to have visual access to their surroundings, and contact with the fresh breeze from outside, promoting thermal comfort and cross ventilation within the barn.

The grounds include a covered round pen, arena, hay and bedding storage areas.

Barn Interior

Inside the stable are 15 stalls, a tack room, grooming area, wash stall, feed room, and veterinary area. The grill between the stalls allows the horses social interaction with each other while having limited physical contact, preventing bites and kicks that could cause injury.

The metal structure used as the structural element of the project, facing the ceiling and avoiding the use of trusses, helps bring more healthiness and facilitates maintenance by cleaning the stable ceilings. It is common for cobwebs, bird nests, and layers of dust to accumulate in this type of structure, making the space unhealthy and requiring constant maintenance.