Apartment ES

Felco

• Architects

Designing a compact apartment requires more than making good use of its square footage: it means understanding the routine, habits, and priorities of the person who will live there. In Apartment ES, located in Vila Madalena, São Paulo, the challenge was even more special. With 46 square meters, the property is the second project developed by Estúdio Maré for the same client, this time conceived as her permanent home.

Designed by architect Lívia Leite, the project was created to translate the resident’s personality into a welcoming, functional architecture filled with thoughtful details. The result demonstrates that compact spaces can offer comfort, character, and sophistication when every decision is made strategically.

The starting point was the integration of the social areas. The living room, kitchen, and balcony were designed to function as a single space, enhancing the perception of spaciousness, maximizing natural light, and making the apartment more inviting for entertaining and everyday living.

“When designing compact apartments, every centimeter needs to work in favor of the resident. More than simply optimizing space, we seek to create environments that feel welcoming, reflect the personality of the person who lives there, and make the home feel larger than it actually is,” explains architect Lívia Leite.

The kitchen, delivered by the developer with only the subfloor in place, was completely redesigned by the studio. The layout was reorganized to create a wider, more comfortable countertop, while the choice of finishes reinforces the project’s identity. The laundry area, meanwhile, was discreetly concealed behind a folding door, allowing the space to remain visually integrated whenever desired.

In the private areas, space optimization guided every decision. The bed was custom-designed in cabinetry, incorporating storage compartments and eliminating the need for additional furniture. In the bathroom, new colorful tiles establish a visual connection with the palette used in the bedroom, creating a light and contemporary atmosphere.

At the same time, the project reflects a conscious approach to renovation. Rather than replacing all the finishes, the studio chose to preserve the original flooring in the wet areas, reducing interventions and directing the investment toward elements capable of generating greater aesthetic and functional impact.

In the other spaces — the bedroom, living room, and balcony — vinyl flooring laid in a herringbone pattern creates visual continuity and reinforces the sense of warmth, while also enhancing the seamless perception of the apartment.

Another highlight of the project was the creation of a home office integrated into the bedroom balcony, making use of natural light to provide a comfortable workspace without compromising circulation within the apartment.

Attention to the resident’s needs also extended to her four-legged companion. Estúdio Maré incorporated a dedicated space for the client’s cat into the design, naturally integrated into the architecture and conceived to become part of the home’s daily routine without interfering with the aesthetics of the spaces.

All cabinetry and stonework were exclusively designed for the apartment, ensuring customized solutions for storage, organization, and visual integration between the rooms. In addition to the architectural and interior design, the studio also oversaw the entire renovation, ensuring that every detail remained faithful to the original concept.

“This was a very special project because we already knew the client and deeply understood the way she lives. That allowed us to create an extremely personalized home, where every solution makes sense for her routine. It is a small apartment in terms of square footage, but very generous when it comes to functionality, comfort, and personality,” says Lívia Leite.

Apartment ES proves that good architecture does not depend on the size of a property. Through smart choices, carefully specified materials, and custom-designed solutions, the project transforms 46 square meters into a sophisticated, welcoming home prepared to accompany the different stages of its resident’s life.