Maurício Nóbrega designs an authentic townhouse in the heart of Rio

Architect Maurício Nóbrega – who will be participating in the next CASACOR Rio de Janeiro , between March 2nd and April 25th – transformed a charmless house into a beautiful property with plenty of natural light and exposed bricks in the Horto condominium, located in one of the most charming neighborhoods in the city, Jardim Botânico. Narrow and with four floors, the house looked more like a small building. However, renovated by architect Maurício Nóbrega, the property took on the appearance of a Rio townhouse , exactly as the new owners wanted – a couple who lived in a large penthouse in Barra and decided to move to the South Zone to give their children, two boys aged 7 and 17, a better quality of life. To accommodate his family, Maurício knocked down part of the second floor slab, creating a living room with a high ceiling that, in addition to increasing the space – the house was previously very segmented and dark – improves the lighting and also allows for greater communication between the floors. "In very divided and vertical plans like this, opening up the house is essential to bring life to the spaces ," explains Maurício.

With the renovation, the first floor now houses only the entrance hall and a storage room; the second floor houses the kitchen , a wine cellar, a living room, a guest bathroom, and staff quarters; the third floor houses the master bedroom and an office ; and the top floor houses the two boys' bedrooms, a separate TV room, and a swimming pool. "With this solution, even though the house is more open, everyone can maintain their privacy," says the architect. However, the biggest change was the façade, which was covered in reclaimed bricks, as well as large glass windows with black metal frames that cover practically the entire façade from the second to the fourth floor. Since the owner of the house works with certified wood, sustainability was also a concern for Maurício. The Rio townhouse gained a water reuse system, LED lighting, and certified wood . For the kitchen countertop and the steps of the stairs, they chose muiracatiara wood – sourced from sustainable forest management in Pará. Another highlight of the project is the unbeatable design-art combination. The contemporary furniture fits perfectly with the bold architecture of the house. As does the art. Being young, the family chose equally young artists: such as Mateo Velasco , who created the work on display in the wine cellar; and Lelo , who created the graffiti on the terrace. One of the 57 professionals participating in CASACOR Rio , Maurício Nóbrega is designing the restaurant's ambiance, which will have a put-together style, with many objects and furniture found in the house being reused. This will be the architect's 22nd participation in the Rio de Janeiro show, which this year will take place from March 2 to April 25, in an iconic mansion located in the same neighborhood as the townhouse: Jardim Botânico. The 30th edition of CASACOR Rio will take place from March 2nd to April 25th, at Residência Brando Barbosa, in the Jardim Botânico neighborhood. Tickets are now on sale! Get yours here: https://casacorrj.byinti.com/ .