José Navarro signs 210 m² apartment in Conjunto Nacional, in SP

This 210 m² apartment is located in the iconic Conjunto Nacional building, on Avenida Paulista (SP) – that is, in the same place where CASACOR São Paulo 2024 will take place. And it was based on the location and historical importance of the building that the Navarro Arquitetura office (which is part of the CASACOR SP cast) signed the renovation of the entire property. "Part of the expectation was shattered as soon as we entered the apartment, which had been renovated and was full of wallpaper, moldings, plaster ceilings, wood panels and decorative elements that did not reflect the modernist essence of the building – the feeling was of a generic place, which could be in any building in the city", says the office. The concept of the project, then, began by restoring the space and highlighting the entire history behind the apartment. The initial guideline was to eliminate all superfluous elements, recovering the truth of the building and seeking a more striking identity for the apartment. As the residents are a childless couple who love to entertain friends – they usually throw parties for more than 60 people – they decided to transform one of the bedrooms into a TV room , partially integrated into the living room, creating a slightly more intimate space within the social area, which is approximately 110 m².

"Among the pleasant surprises of the process, we can highlight the discovery of the original façade tiles in a part of the room that originally housed a balcony. Together with the owners, we chose to keep the floor and skirting board, preserving the memory of the apartment's most recent renovation," say the professionals. In the main living room, a multi-depth island sofa divides the space and allows for different seating options. There are also contemporary designer pieces and a leather sofa that the clients received as a wedding gift. Responsible for bringing color and warmth to the space, the living room rug, made from a patchwork of old rugs, was one of the first items chosen because it characterizes the concept sought for the space. Regarding the works of art, the choices ranged from old items such as the painting "Julgamento" placed near the dining table, to contemporary works, such as the object by Antônio Bokel made from posters taken from the streets and placed on the floor near the entrance.