Inovando Arquitetura designs a contemporary 225 m² apartment in São Paulo, Brazil
Designed by Ingrid Zarza and Fernanda Bradaschia, the project transforms a couple’s apartment into a sophisticated, welcoming, and flexible home, with bespoke cabinetry, natural materials, and solutions tailored to a new stage of life.
In Vila Olímpia, São Paulo, Inovando Arquitetura, led by architects and partners Ingrid Zarza and Fernanda Bradaschia, has renovated the Praça Faria Lima apartment for a couple entering a new phase of life. With their two children now grown, the priority was to create a comfortable and sophisticated home for the couple, while remaining equally prepared to welcome family and friends.
Longtime friends of Ingrid, the homeowners approached the studio after purchasing the property. The project reorganized the layout to enhance integration and flexibility between spaces. The living room and balcony were combined, while the kitchen and gourmet area were brought together to form a more fluid social hub. A custom-designed panel allows the gourmet area to be connected to or separated from the dining room, depending on the occasion. “The intention was to create a space designed for the two of them—comfortable and sophisticated, yet still welcoming to family and friends,” say the architects.
In the private area, the layout was also revised. One of the bathrooms in the former primary suite was converted into a walk-in closet for the second suite, creating a configuration better suited to the couple’s current routine. The home office was given a dual function: in addition to serving as a workspace, it can accommodate guests. The bespoke cabinetry that replaces the original wall also functions as a wardrobe in the bedroom corridor.
Natural materials and bespoke cabinetry
The material palette combines wood, stone, and high-performance surfaces. Natural wood veneer runs through the living room cabinetry, while Taj Mahal quartzite stands out in the gourmet area and in details of the dining room sideboard. Porcelain tile covers the social areas, while wood flooring adds warmth to the bedrooms.
In the kitchen and the suite bathroom, ultra-compact surfaces were selected for their resistance to everyday use. In the powder room and entrance hall, stretch fabric ceilings add a contemporary, understated finish.
Custom-designed cabinetry is one of the project’s defining elements. In the living room, the shelving unit uses a fixed glass panel as its backdrop and frames the exterior planter, bringing greenery into the interior. In the gourmet area, the panel that separates the spaces combines glass facing the barbecue area and fabric facing the living room, blending practicality and warmth. “Every piece of furniture, material, and detail was conceived not simply to fill the space, but to become part of the residents’ story and daily life,” say Ingrid and Fernanda.
In the home office, this connection to the clients’ memories becomes even more meaningful. A marble top that already belonged to one of the homeowners was repurposed and incorporated into the new desk, becoming the starting point for the room’s cabinetry design.
An entrance hall created from scratch
Another important intervention took place right at the entrance. As the apartment had been delivered by the developer without a social entrance hall, the elevator opened directly into the residence. The architects created a new arrival area, with a panel, door, custom cabinetry, and a stretch fabric ceiling, establishing a more elegant transition between the elevator and the rest of the home.
The hall was also designed to display an artwork that already belonged to the homeowner, incorporating a meaningful piece into the new architecture.
With a contemporary and modern aesthetic, Praça Faria Lima balances natural materials, bespoke solutions, and architecture designed for real life. The result is a home that supports the couple’s new stage of life without compromising on conviviality, comfort, or the homeowners’ personality.
Team:
Architects: Inovando Arquitetura
Photographer: Gisele Rampazzo
