High-End House Trends in 2026: What's Really Worth It in Criciúma

Updated on 07/06/2026 by EZA Engenharia

We've been closely following the trends in high-end homes for 2026, and one common thread shows up in almost every project that reaches our drawing board: less ostentation, more quality of life day to day. Having designed and built high-end residences in Criciúma, Içara, Forquilhinha, Nova Veneza, Cocal do Sul and Balneário Rincão for more than 35 years, EZA Engenharia has seen firsthand how families have changed the way they think about their own home. Integration with the outdoors, sustainability, smart automation, multifunctional spaces and natural materials are no longer showroom differentiators. Today they are a basic requirement for anyone building with the goal of living well for many years. In this article we break down each of these trends and show how they fit the climate and the way of life in our region.

The integration between interior and exterior gains even more strength

Among the high-end home trends of 2026 that appear most in the projects EZA develops, one repeats almost every time: erasing the boundary between inside and outside. Large glass panel, floor-to-ceiling window frames, gourmet porch attached to the living room. All of this makes the house engage with the garden, the pool, the landscaping. The result is a sense of space that does not depend only on square footage.

In Criciúma and the surrounding region this type of solution works very well, because the climate is mild most of the year and you can use covered outdoor areas practically all the time. Residence V.S, in Criciúma, and Residence A.F, in Balneário Rincão, show this clearly: double-height ceilings, deck and view were designed together from the very first line, not afterward.

The thing is, this integration is not about taking out a wall and putting glass in its place. It requires a study of solar orientation, cross ventilation and the right choice of frames, a calculation that only in-house engineering can do with precision. Without that, the bill comes later in the form of leaks, heat inside the house or a higher electricity bill.

Sustainability is no longer optional

Sustainability has become one of the most solid pillars among the trends in high-end houses for 2026. And it is not just about putting solar panels on the roof. It is about designing the entire project to consume less energy, make better use of water and use materials with lower environmental impact from the foundation onward.

Among the solutions that most often appear in EZA clients' requests are:

These investments do weigh a bit more on the project's initial budget, it's true. But they cut the electricity and water bill year after year and raise the property's value in an eventual resale. After more than three decades of building, we see this confirmed case by case.

• Solar power system sized for the family's actual consumption
• Rainwater harvesting and reuse for the garden and outdoor area
• Window frames and glass with good thermal performance, which reduce air conditioning use
• Regional materials, which reduce transport and the project's environmental cost

Home automation designed for everyday life, not for show

Automation is no longer that isolated luxury item and is now treated as home infrastructure, on the same level as the electrical and plumbing systems. In 2026 what the client wants is centralized control of lighting, climate, security, and irrigation, all integrated through an app or voice command, with a focus on energy savings and real comfort, not on showing off technology.

One point we always reinforce with the client: well-done automation begins in the electrical design, still at the floor-plan stage. Yes, you can retrofit automation into a finished house, but it costs more and considerably limits the options. Anyone who already knows they want automation needs to bring it to the design table right at the start, not after the project is already standing.

Integrated security systems, presence sensors and smart room-by-room climate control have also been increasingly requested in high-end residences in the region, especially in beach houses on the coast, such as those in Balneário Rincão, which stay closed for part of the season and need remote monitoring.

Multifunctional spaces for a more flexible routine

The home office changed the way people live, and this shows up directly in the trends for high-end houses in 2026. Instead of a room with a single fixed function, today's design prioritizes space that adapts: an office that becomes a guest room when the family comes to visit, a living room that connects to the gourmet veranda to host guests, a mezzanine that serves both as leisure and as a study nook.

This flexibility does not happen by chance. It requires careful planning of layout, electrical points, lighting and even acoustics, so that the space works well in all its uses and does not look like a last-minute solution.

In practice, this means fewer oversized rooms that stay closed most of the year and more generous space that the family actually uses every day, which also yields a better return on the investment made in the project.

Natural materials bring identity and durability

Reforestation wood, natural stone, iron, glass and finishes with organic texture remain among the most valued choices in high-end design. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these materials tend to last longer and age more nobly than most industrialized options, especially when well specified by seasoned engineering.

In Criciúma and the region, the use of natural material also creates a dialogue with the local landscape, whether in a house surrounded by vegetation in Nova Veneza or Cocal do Sul, or in a beach residence in Balneário Rincão, where stone and wood withstand the sea air better when chosen and treated the right way.

This combination of natural material with premium structure and finishing is a signature of projects like the Hotel Centenário, which EZA carried out by uniting construction tradition with a modern solution for comfort and durability.

After 35 years hands-on in Criciúma, we've learned one thing: a high-end home isn't achieved by placing luxury items side by side. Integration with the outdoors, sustainability, automation, multifunctional spaces and natural materials only deliver value when they are born together, in the same project, conceived by the same engineering team that knows the land, the climate and the light of the region. That is the care EZA Engenharia carries into every project. If you want to build or expand your high-end home with this level of attention, talk to us on WhatsApp (48) 99191-2018, by e-mail at [email protected] or through the website eza.com.br and set up a conversation about your project.