Apartment ACL was conceived to house an extensive art collection that permeates and connects all the spaces. The architectural project is authored by Arthur Casas, with co-authorship by Cristiane Trolesi from C+AD Arquitetura e Design. The interiors were jointly designed by Arthur and the owner – a long-time client and friend of the studio, with whom Arthur shares a strong affinity, allowing for a project developed collaboratively.
The main challenge was to simultaneously meet the demand for open walls to display artworks, shelving to house decorative objects, and generous spaces with wide spans and a flexible layout. The solution was to extend the apartment’s social area and make the most of both existing and new walls. This resulted in a large room that brings together the living area, library, dining room, and entrance hall, integrating multiple environments into a single space.
The kitchen features a fully retractable opening, allowing for either an integrated or private configuration with the social area. This solution enhances the apartment's sense of spaciousness, enables cross-ventilation, brings in natural light, and adds functionality. The private area houses a master suite and a guest bedroom, which connects to the TV room. For the lighting design, a combination of direct and indirect sources was chosen to highlight the artworks while also providing comfort and functionality for the residents.
To accommodate the collection of books and artworks, the large bookshelf in the library was structurally reinforced, and metal screens on sliding tracks were installed – located at the center of the apartment and accessible only through the private area – to store the artworks that are not currently on display.
In addition to her art collection, the client also owns a rich selection of furniture designed by major names in Brazilian design, such as the JZ tea trolley by Jorge Zalszupin and a coffee table by Adriana Varejão. The collection also includes pieces designed by Arthur Casas 30 years ago, as well as contemporary ones like the Pan Am Sofa and the Rino Dining Table.
