Step Inside a Tranquil Horse Property in Brazil

Tranquility echoes around this expansive property with a focus on the horse’s well being.

Upon entering the lush grounds at V.M. Dressage Stables, the quiet environment, stunning structures harmoniously placed on the expansive property in Porto Feliz, in São Paul Brazil don’t go unnoticed. Completed in 2023 by Per Cavalli Arquitetura, this equestrian project was designed for young dressage professionals, creating a space to facilitate a busy daily environment for horses, grooms, and riders.

Credits:

Per Cavalli Arquitetura

Main architect – Giulia Bitar Malfatti

Co creative architect: Maria Perez Coelho Bento

Landscaping – Amil Gramas

Frames, stall doors and Windows – Samuel from Mader Silva

Photography by Cacá Bratke

The property’s “O’ shaped layout makes it possible to fit the extensive needs of the clients, including 30 stalls, a veterinary area, showers, tack rooms, reception area, dryers, changing rooms, storage for feed and hay, in addition to two apartments in a very functional way.

The property’s visual identity is defined by its grand, centrally-facing wooden and iron stalls and exposed brickwork. This cohesive aesthetic extends across all the buildings, from the main house to the training track.

Daytime lighting is provided naturally by the sun, which permeates the building through the many windows and ventilated walls. To illuminate the space in the evenings, the project incorporates both functional and scenic lighting elements. Pendant lights in each bay serve a practical purpose, while sconces along the pillars and ground-level lighting in the landscaping create a more atmospheric, scenic effect.

The barn features wide, covered corridors that provide shelter and airflow, even on rainy days. These interconnected corridors link the various service areas.

The veterinary area, located near the main entrance, features a handling area, containment trunk, and aquatic treadmill to accommodate the horses. This space is outfitted with rubber floor plates, the same durable material used in the external showers and animal preparation area. The choice of rubber flooring helps minimize impact on horses’ hooves and enhance safety during handling.

The grounds are beautifully landscaped, balancing beauty and practical amenities.

The square courtyard creates a welcoming atmosphere, with a fountain and landscaping that, together, soften the micro climate while bringing nature into the building. The windows on the external sides, present in all stalls, allow the horses to enjoy not only the internal view, but also the landscapes that the positioning of the pavilion at the highest point of the land provides.