The residents' desire to make minimal changes to the original floor plan guided the decisions made in the renovation project for this 270 m² apartment, designed by BLOCO Arquitetos, owned by partners Henrique Coutinho, Daniel Mangabeira, and Matheus Seco, from Brazil. The project proposes a new layout for the social area and seeks to “maximize” its space, meeting the functional needs of the couple and their two young children.
The living room, the family's main living area, has been integrated with the kitchen. In this space, the architects designed an “island” with a stove, which allows the couple to interact with guests while preparing meals.

The interventions focused on removing and reorganizing walls and doors, while much of the existing infrastructure and materials were preserved. The concrete pillars, previously covered with gray graphite paint, were restored to expose the original material.
As the gray porcelain tile floor was already part of the original apartment, the architects chose to keep it. On top of it, woodwork and furniture elements in natural wood veneer were superimposed.

A floor-mounted TV allows the living room to face the view of Burle Marx Park, opposite the building. This configuration also ensures that natural light floods into the room—one of the property's main qualities. 
The residents have a collection of paintings and prints that include works by Carybé, Poteiro, Leda Watson, and Burle Marx. These pieces were arranged on the wall behind the sofa, forming a kind of “affective gallery.”
In the private area, the first of the four suites, close to the social area, was transformed into an office. The bathroom was divided into two areas, connected by the bathtub area.
According to the residents, the choice of apartment was immediate: from the building to the architectural firm.

Team:
Architecture: BLOCO Arquitetos 
Authors: Daniel Mangabeira, Henrique Coutinho, and Matheus Seco
Coordination: Bárbara Neumann
Photo Production: Luciana Cardoso (BLOCO Arquitetos)
Photos: Júlia Tótoli