Creamy Tile Polishes Up a Brazil Apartment’s Rough Concrete Edges

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Project Details:

Location: São Paulo, Brazil

Architect: Memola Estudio / @memola.estudio

Footprint: 1,776 square feet

General Contractor: Lumel Engenharia

Photographer: Fran Parente / @franparente

From the Architect: "On one hand, we wanted this renovation to reflect our clients’ cosmopolitan lifestyle—Brazilians who had resided in more than one foreign city and met while living abroad. On the other hand, we wanted t pair the new and the old, and the rustic and the industrial, with objects or systems which impress fineness to the spaces. The challenge was to refurbish the apartment while disposing of as little as possible from what was already ready for living.

"The space had a bright living room and bedrooms that were accessible through an intimate hall. The kitchen was isolated from the social areas, connected by a space set for the dining table. Therefore, the layout changes aimed to transform one bedroom into an office, visually integrated into the living room, that was capable of being closed off for privacy. We also wanted to expand the kitchen, as well as create a connection to the living room. The clients appreciate cooking and prefer to do so while in touch with the house’s dynamics.

"The structural alterations are concentrated in the apartment’s core, where the living room connects to the modified spaces to assist the new demands. Part of the intimate hall was attached to the office, but, to compensate, the existing closet gave space to the dining area to serve as sideboard. The old cupboard was entirely eliminated and incorporated into the kitchen, which in turn was redesigned. We also inverted the position of the sink and toilet in the powder room to improve its access. The wall that secluded the entrance hall was removed, amplifying the openness between the kitchen and the living room.

"The office was surrounded by glass windows marked by horizontal sections, both where it faces the living and the dining rooms. All-new interior frames follow the same design, and because they are glazed, make room for better lighting. A new door was placed between the living room and the bedroom area, as well as new frames between the kitchen and service area at the back.

"The new kitchen layout has an island, its broad counter made of stainless steel, inlaid on one end and propped on the other by a discreet pillar of the same material. To balance the industrial feeling and the lack of cabinets, a crystal cabinet was designed using demolition wood, and special care was taken in choosing the stools, as comfort was a priority for the clients.

"The material’s neutral tones are counterbalanced by the design’s highlight: the tiles. Mostly light colored, they cover long surfaces—the base of the two walls between the living room and the office, some of the pillars, the L-shaped counter designed for the living room—and are carefully arranged, with every now and then the insertion of a burnt yellow tile. This adds color and graphics to the project, conveying cheerfulness to the ambiance.

"The furniture is part of the project, including vintage finds. The bathroom’s redesign was delicate but impactful, with the replacement of the coatings and the new cabinet doors. The lighting pairs central and focal light, provided by vintage fixtures."