From the highest floor of a building in Nova Lima, in the heart of Minas Gerais, a
stunning view unfolds. On one side, the winding mountain region, with its
abundant nature. On the other, the city's urban sprawl extending to the horizon. It
is in the midst of this landscape, full of natural and artificial elevations, that this
penthouse aims to be an oasis for a young couple and their two children.
The apartment's program is distributed over its two floors. Access is via the lower
floor, where a large tapestry by Norberto Nicola welcomes visitors arriving through
the social hall. To the right, an extensive living and dining room integrates with the
landscape in the background, framed by long glass windows that run the entire
length of the space and compose the scenery. A stone bench follows the entire
perimeter of the window.
On the other side, to the left, a large veranda opens up to an impressive scale, with
double height ceilings. Wooden brise-soleils, designed to protect from the solar
incidence on the large glass panels of the windows, envelop and compose the
space. A swimming pool and a gourmet area extend across the veranda, with the
views opening out to the city and the nature beyond. The same brise-soleils that
envelop the double height ceiling extend to become the lining that connects all
social areas. Gray lacquer panels were used to mimic doors, cabinets and the
elevator, creating fluidity and visual consistency throughout the apartment. Also
located on this floor are an oKice, a wine cellar and the kitchen, which connects
with the dining room and the gourmet area.
The staircase, one of the central elements of the project, delicately connects the
lower floor to the upper floor, covered by wooden brise-soleils on the ceiling and
walls. As the light passes through the gaps, rhythmic shadows dance throughout
the day, constantly moving.
The intimate areas are located on the upper floor, with the master suite, children's
suites, a playroom and a home theater. A service area is directly connected to the
lower floor by a staircase that lands on the kitchen circulation.
The furniture chosen to compose the project is full of Brazilian and Italian
references, with names such as Jorge Zalszupin, Claudia Moreira Salles and
Roberto Lazzeroni, as well as artwork by Vik Muniz, Daniel Senise and Laura Vinci.
Team:
Architect: Jacobsen Arquitetura
Lead Architect: Paulo Jacobsen, Bernardo Jacobsen and Edgar Murata
Photographer: Fran Parente
