Oriente Apartment is the sixth project by the studio in a building designed by Marcílio Mendes Ferreira, one of the architects who most significantly contributed to the construction of the iconic superblock buildings in Brasília’s Plano Piloto during the 1970s and '80s.

The project was guided by principles focused on preserving and highlighting pre-existing elements, such as the painted steel sliding window frames, concrete brise-soleils, and cobogós (perforated hollow bricks), while also incorporating the clients’ appreciation for the Japanese-Brazilian aesthetic.

The apartment’s kitchen was completely redesigned and integrated into the social area through new sliding partitions whose design mirrors the lines of the building’s original windows. The extensive use of sliding doors throughout the project recalls traditional Japanese shoji screens, typically made of translucent paper, which here is replaced by frosted glass.

Demolishing the wall between the living room and kitchen revealed a concrete pillar, which was then incorporated into the dining table design: two shelves and a concrete beam frame and support a solid wood tabletop brought by the clients from their previous home.

The new kitchen layout extends to the rear façade, where a wall of original cobogós was exposed. Another restored element is the original Ipê wood flooring, which regained its natural mixed tones after sanding. The light, restrained color palette — with natural materials and textures — evokes an atmosphere of well-being and serenity.

During the design process, the clients traveled to Kyoto and sent numerous references from the city. The wooden slats with indirect lighting that line the corridor are a direct result of this exchange of inspirations.

From Marcílio’s modernist Brasília to contemporary Japanese design, Apartamento Oriente balances between two distant worlds — a tribute to the residents' travels and life experiences.