The briefing was for a beautiful space that highlights Brazilian identity and the Rio lifestyle as much as possible (the family already owns an apartment abroad and usually spends holidays in Spain), and where all spaces are primarily comfortable and functional. It is a space to gather family and close friends. It is not a formal environment: it is a place to enter, take off your shoes, and stay barefoot and in shorts. Another request was to include plenty of greenery.
We visited around 25 properties in Rio and chose this one (which was in very poor condition) mainly because of the view – it was the only penthouse we visited that had an almost 360-degree view. In addition, the fact that it is a building with few apartments was also a decisive factor.
The owner did not bring many guidelines or references, only that it was a childhood dream that took time to be achieved. It was a project in which we had a lot of freedom. The premises we developed were: to highlight the view as much as possible; to emphasize Brazilian identity and a beach atmosphere. To achieve this, we created a predominantly neutral environment and used some Gestalt concepts.
The project was always designed considering the circulation and views within the apartment. One example of the use of Gestalt was the staircase, which works as a kind of “tunnel” that “cleans” the view of someone going up, bringing even more emphasis to the TV room window, which frames Christ the Redeemer like a picture. In addition, we installed two mirrors in the outdoor area that enhance the view from above, and a mirror in the pool that allows those inside it to simultaneously observe Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain. Also considering the “paths” within the house, we positioned some artworks in strategic locations.
As in other projects by the firm, we worked with a very reduced material palette, using only six types of finishes throughout the entire project. We chose a predominantly light color palette; applying limestone Moleanos on the floors of social areas, bathrooms, outdoor areas, and the pool, whose composition is basically sand and animal fossils, creating a sensation similar to shells in the sand. We used light European oak in the bedrooms and American oak in the panels. In the bathrooms, we designed the countertops in green emerald marble as a reference to vegetation and added some details in Via Appia stone. In the kitchens and laundry area, we used a green granite for the countertops, which is more practical for daily use. The deck was made of teak wood, which requires less maintenance.
We modified practically the entire apartment layout. On the lower floor, the main changes were the creation of two new bathrooms, the modification of the entrance to one of the bathrooms (which allowed us to create three suites and leave one bathroom in the hallway that serves exclusively one bedroom; this way, each bedroom has its own bathroom), and the merging of two service rooms into a single, more comfortable one.
The upper floor, which was previously basically a large slab, was completely transformed, receiving two bathrooms, a TV room, a sauna, and a large outdoor area with a space we call a “grove,” a barbecue area, a deck with a lounge and sun loungers, and the pool.
Since it is a building from the 1960s that had not undergone major renovations, we had to redo the apartment from scratch, including modifying the building’s main electrical panel (we needed to increase the electrical load reaching the apartment) and redoing the gas piping from the street to the apartment. We also had to conduct a complete structural study, reinforcing it externally and ensuring structural safety.
The inspiration was Rio de Janeiro itself and Brazil – as it is a beach apartment for a family that already owns other properties for vacations, holidays, and weekends.
The apartment was completely redone. We did not keep anything from the previous layout. Despite this, we brought in some furniture and much of the décor from the owners’ other homes, bringing the family’s personality into the space. Highlights include the rocking chair, the shelving unit next to the staircase, and the collection of antique telephones.
All furniture used is Brazilian, except for the Paola Lenti poufs in the pool area. The barbecue chairs, the deck sofa, and the dining table were designed by the firm specifically for this project. A large part of the furniture was purchased from antique stores; the rugs are from Phenicia, and the curtains from Belinha Decorações. The stones were supplied by Stoni Marmi and Brasigran, with installation by Marmi Graniti. The sofas are from Decameron. Lighting fixtures and the Paola Lenti pouf are from Casual. The cabinetry is by Padrão Móveis.
Among the artworks, highlights include a painting by Burle Marx, a Tenreiro sculpture (the red one next to the powder room door), and the sculpture next to the staircase, created by artist Fernando Spazianni, developed from a piece found by the client during the demolition of a church in the city center.
Team:
Architects: Navarro Arquitetura
Photographer: MCA Estúdio - Denilson Machado
