Living between Rio de Janeiro and Angola, the owners of the Terrazzo Apartment turned to Studio Arthur Casas to create a home for their stays in São Paulo. She, a professional chef, and he, an enthusiast of spacious and continuous spaces, brought specific requests that guided the project’s design, prioritizing functionality for daily life, designer-crafted furniture, prominence of art, minimalist finishes, and high technology.
The selection of materials began with preserving the original exposed concrete slab. Complementing this base, Studio Arthur Casas selected a flooring to ensure uninterrupted visual continuity. Thus, the Terrazzo floor was chosen as the central element of the project, unifying all surfaces in the social area.
Inspired by the Venetian floor of the Olivetti showroom — an iconic work by Italian architect Carlo Scarpa — the Terrazzo floor was crafted exclusively for the apartment. It uses a cementitious composition with marble fragments arranged in orthogonal geometric patterns, creating a rhythmically regular yet intentionally imperfect aesthetic. This unique, custom-designed flooring reflects the Studio’s commitment to innovation, exploring solutions rarely seen in the national Brazilian market.
The careful selection of materials reinforces the contemporary essence of the project. The stainless-steel kitchen island contrasts with the minimalist wooden cabinetry, which conceals appliances to create a seamless look. Lighting, sound, and automation infrastructures are embedded in the ceiling, slightly lowering the room’s height; the ceiling, also clad in wood, enhances a cozy ambiance. Acoustic solutions were meticulously designed so that only the wood veneer’s thickness would resonate sound. For lighting, the "non-light" concept prevails: lamps are fully embedded in the ceiling, allowing only pinpoint light emission. Around the dining table, the leather and metal Tucroma chairs (4Mariani) face the chef, fostering interaction. In the background, a painting by Beatriz Milhazes adds color to the space, while Anish Kapoor’s mirrored art reflects the metal surfaces.
Art curation also stands out in the social area, with a sculpture by Túlio Pinto in the entry hall and a piece by Krajcberg on the main living room wall. On the opposite side, the Serpentine Sofa (Holly Hunt), Ghost Armchair in glass (Fiam), and vintage chairs from Liceu de Artes e Ofícios define the first seating area, complemented by the Ettore Side Table (Arthur Casas for Studio Objeto) in colorful marble and Lava Stone Tables (Maison Gerard) in volcanic stone. For lighting, Lune Lamps (Ecart) floor lights and discreet yet high-power track lights ensure true color rendering to showcase the art pieces.
The home theater connects through the modular ExtraSoft Sofa (Living Divani), with a wider seat on one side and a narrower on the other, serving both spaces. The TV, hidden within a mirrored glass wall, maintains the clean look and sense of continuity when off. Complementing the space are two Karuselli Armchairs (Artek) in caramel and white, a highlight in the home theater.
The original layout was modified to convert one room into a home office, functioning as a transition between social and private areas. With sliding doors, the space can be closed off for privacy and flexibility. At its center, the Jambu desk, designed by Arthur Casas for Herança Cultural, pairs with the vintage Pollock Chair (Knoll). Above off-white cabinetry, a niche features Terrazzo again, now as a wall covering. Iron corten sculptures by Osmar Dalio and ceramics by Kimi Nii and Akinori Nakatani complete the ambiance.
From the office, the hallway directly connects to both bedrooms. Here, the Terrazzo gives way to European oak wood flooring, chosen to create a cozier atmosphere.
One side leads to the master suite, with a wooden sculpture by Tunga. This spacious room in earthy tones includes a double closet and a bathroom with separate sinks, showers, and toilets for greater privacy. Highlights include the Delfino Armchair (Arflex) paired with the 9 Table (Cassina), and the Tupi bedside table, designed by Arthur Casas for Etel.
The other side houses a second suite for occasional visits from the couple’s daughter. Above the bed, a wall is filled with Terry O’Neill photographs, complemented by standout design pieces, such as the Perch Coat Stand (Nendo), Lurdes desk (Arthur Casas for Studio Objeto), and Tubo chair (Wentz).
In the bathrooms, Carrara marble covers the surfaces from countertops to cabinet fronts, with careful compatibility between cabinetry and stonework. Brushed graphite metal fixtures add to the palette of gray marble veins, creating a cohesive aesthetic.
Technology is subtly integrated throughout the apartment, fulfilling the clients' primary request: automation, motion sensors, and lighting planned to remain "invisible" within the environment. This last feature, subtle and predominantly indirect, uses recessed slots and fixtures, reinforcing minimalism as the guiding thread of the architectural proposal.
