A 220 m² apartment in a 1970s residential building located in the Jardins neighborhood of São Paulo underwent an initial renovation in 2012. This project was developed by the Brazil Arquitetura office, which defined the entire layout and structural concept of the apartment.
In 2023, the family hired the RUA 141 office, led by architect Mona Singal, to make further interventions in the apartment. The project’s premise was to continue the language created in 2012, valuing the work done previously.
The burned cement floor was restored in the social area, and the ribbed concrete slab in the hall was stripped to maintain the same language as the social area. Lighting was installed to highlight the structure delicately, complementing the yellow sliding door. To create a splash of color right at the entrance of the apartment, the architect chose a painting by Brazilian artist Gabriela Costa.
Furniture and objects by Brazilian designers with light and sophisticated lines were selected to balance the brutalist atmosphere. For instance, the elegant Bank Table by Jader Almeida, in polished Nero Marquina marble with a metal structure, is paired with the Jabuticaba Lamp by Ana Neute, which seems to float in the space.
The bookshelf in marine plywood, which was present in part of the social area and the office, was continued to embrace the living and dining areas. This piece was developed in partnership with the Baraúna joinery, the same team that crafted the previous bookshelf.
The metalwork elements were designed in this second stage, ensuring the lightness of the metal and the industrial language. The glass door—separating and simultaneously integrating the terrace with the social area—was designed to allow full opening of the space. The thin metal benches contrast with the raw concrete structure, while the metal planters anchoring the benches support tropical vegetation, bringing life and texture to the apartment.
In the powder room, a ceramic box concept was created. The Lepri tiles cover all surfaces: floor, walls, and ceiling. The delicate and natural touch of the material provides warmth to this space. The sink and mirror frame, designed in metalwork, reinforce the lightness of the project. The Corda lamp by Wentz and the Argola hangers by Estúdio Orth ensure the presence of Brazilian design.
In the intimate area, the existing wooden flooring was too thin for restoration. Thus, the office chose to maintain the wooden floor concept but with a new pattern: herringbone and using a new wood, Tauari.
In the master suite, the concrete slats with caramel leather and natural freijó wood nightstands provided warmth and sophistication to the space. The Copa and Corda lamps by Wentz shape light in distinct formats, and the framed photograph by Araquém Alcântara subtly guides the gaze towards nature.
Artisanal materials took center stage in the bathrooms. In the master bathroom, the use of granilite on the floor and walls complements the black fixtures and natural freijó wood. In the children’s bathroom, two different types of hydraulic tiles were chosen: the Seagull tile in mint green for the floor and a geometric relief in white for the walls.
“In this project, Brazilian design stands out as the protagonist, bringing personality, lightness, and comfort to the spaces,” emphasizes Mona Singal, partner-architect at RUA 141.
Team:
Architects: Rua 141 | Arquitetura e Design
Photographer: Cacá Bratke
