ha·ci·en·da (hä´sê-èn¹de) noun

When a senior executive from Singer manufacturing met a woman from Brazil while living in Portugal, who thought that they would fall in love, live all over the world, and then move to Wilmington? The challenge for us was to create a design that echoed their experiences together, while meeting their needs today. Neil worked with us to incorporate authentic Portuguese vernacular architecture into the design. They had many books we looked through on Brazilian churches and homes. Marianna helped by translating the text, which typically was in Portuguese. The lot they choose in Landfall is beautiful, but bisected by a Corp of Engineer 404 wetland area. Interior walls were double framed and left up to two feet thick to create the impression of adobe or stone construction. Bookshelves and niches provide space for some of the many icons in Marianna’s collection. Hand painted tile was imported from Brazil to accent the window and door openings.