Designed for hybrid use, both living and renting, this duplex apartment combines warmth and flexibility. Clear layout decisions enhance the perception of space and make everyday life more fluid. An efficient environment, with a strong identity and surprising comfort.
Juliana is 28 years old and leads an intense routine. An entrepreneur, she spends most of her day at the office and keeps an active social life. When at home, she values moments of rest and reading, and often enjoys hosting friends.
With limited time and the need for an agile process, she found in Atelier 1901 the support she was looking for. Led by architect Thatiane Barros, the studio works collaboratively with young professionals and a network of technical partners, following every stage of both design and construction, offering confidence in decision-making and clarity throughout the process.
Because she spends little time at home, the apartment needed to function as a place of pause and comfort—a space to slow down, free from reminders of the work environment. Intentionally, Juliana chose not to include a home office, reinforcing the idea of home as a place for rest and connection.
More than a fixed space, Juliana wanted a flexible, intuitive and timeless apartment, capable of adapting to different moments of her daily life. With her fiancé temporarily living in Canada and a frequent travel routine, the project also needed to accommodate the possibility of short-stay rentals. Atelier 1901’s challenge was to create a space with personality that was, at the same time, versatile and easy to maintain.
Among the main requirements were preserving good natural light, creating comfortable social areas for hosting friends, and ensuring the privacy of the suite. The project’s starting point was precisely this balance between entertaining and resting.
With a well-defined budget, the strategy was to keep the finishes delivered by the developer and concentrate investments on loose furniture and custom millwork. This approach made it possible to fully optimize the 398 sq ft of the duplex studio with practical solutions for everyday living.
The timeline was also decisive. In just three months—between design and construction—the apartment was completely transformed. Juliana closely followed the design phase and coordinated the construction period with a trip to visit her fiancé, combining work and travel.
“At the end of our last design meeting, she said: ‘Thati, next time we see each other, I’ll be arriving from a trip to sleep in my new apartment,’” recalls Thatiane Barros.
Beyond meeting the client’s aesthetic and functional expectations, one of the main challenges was coordinating the schedules of more than twelve suppliers working almost simultaneously. Organizing teams, deliveries and execution was essential to ensure both the deadline and the quality of the final result.
The project emphasizes the visual relationship between interior and exterior, with a clear spatial organization and no excess. Every decision was made to make the studio more functional, comfortable and easy to use on a daily basis.
The layout began with the design of a large bench beneath the window, which organizes the social area, expands the living space and creates a comfortable spot for reading. The bench also incorporates storage, reinforcing the idea of making the most of every square meter.
The choice of a modular “island-style” sofa was key to the spatial configuration. Flexible, the piece allows the client to comfortably host six to eight guests or, with a simple adjustment of the backrest, transform into a chaise for relaxing moments and watching series.
“We extended the TV unit beyond the wall alignment to maintain proportion with the sofa and the selected television, while also creating a compartment for cleaning supplies,” explains Thatiane.
On the upper level, custom millwork concentrates the storage solutions. A platform with large drawers supports the mattress and keeps the space visually open, while side and upper cabinets meet the client’s needs. Positioned facing the window, the bed enhances the sense of comfort and warmth.
The project involved the participation of three architects who are part of Atelier 1901’s professional training program. Under the supervision of architect Thatiane Barros, Manuela Martins, Mariana Perboni and Aricia Bilik took part in the project’s development, contributing actively across all stages, from concept to detailing. This collaborative dynamic reflects the studio’s methodology, which combines professional training with design excellence.
