Perkins&Will's project for MPD Construtora and Helbor Empreendimentos offers home-like experiences in a high-end building in Itaim Bibi, one of São Paulo's most desirable neighborhoods.
Art and architecture go hand in hand, creating mutual and continuous inspiration. This constant dialogue guided the Perkins&Will São Paulo team in the creation of Figueira Leopoldo. With a design inspired by kinetic art, the building explores visual effects through the movements and color changes of the brise-soleil, a direct reference to the artistic style that explores optical illusions and dynamism.
"The incredible work of Brazilian artist Abraham Palatnik had a great influence on this project. We created a dynamic building that takes on a new aesthetic and relationship with the observer, depending on the angle and time of day from which it is viewed," says Douglas Tolaine, Design Director at Perkins&Will São Paulo. "Through the effects of the façade, the building establishes a special relationship with its surroundings and the city," concludes the project's lead architect.
The façades are composed of wooden panels and brise-soleil that run freely throughout the apartments, offering freedom and privacy to residents, as well as dynamism and depth to those observing the building from the street. This effect, along with the textural solutions and rooftop gardens, lends lightness and dynamism to the contemporary design building.
"The sliding brise-soleil take center stage in this project. In addition to contributing to the performance of the building and apartments (by controlling natural lighting and ventilation), their movement on each floor creates mutable works of art, which take on new configurations every day, depending on the weather, the residents' desires, and the perspective from which they are viewed," shares Douglas.
Located on Leopoldo Couto de Magalhães Street, the 115-meter-tall building has 32 exclusive apartments, including the garden and duplex units, the latter at the top of the tower. The structure was designed with a focus on spatial flexibility, encouraging multiple interior configurations while also favoring large openings to promote natural light, cross-ventilation, and privileged views of the urban landscape. The use of natural materials and the inclusion of interior gardens reinforce the feeling of environmental comfort and warmth in each apartment.
To achieve the best results, the development was divided into two blocks: social and service areas. "The division of uses and displacement of the service area resulted in open floor plans, offering 360° views in the social and private areas, which are not interrupted as is the case in many traditional apartments," explains Adriana Barbosa, project manager.
In addition to the exclusive apartments, Figueira Leopoldo boasts a robust common area with gardens and amenities such as a lounge, party room, playroom, swimming pool, spa, and fitness center, with interior design by Carlos Rossi. The landscaping, featuring native species, was developed by Benedito Abbud. Each apartment unit also has four parking spaces—distributed across the two basement levels. The garden and duplex units also enjoy additional space, totaling five parking areas.
The choice of natural materials was also crucial to establishing a friendly relationship with the neighborhood. The composition of a base with stones, wood and abundant vegetation gave permeability to the building with imposing characteristics, allowing pedestrians to see and be seen in this transition zone between the street and the building's premises, making the walk more friendly and pleasant.
