The coverage gains being and gourmet with a view of Pedra da Gávea

The privileged view of postcard sites in Rio de Janeiro, such as Pedra da Gávea and Praia de São Conrado, was already part of the life of the residents – they already lived in the same building – when the opportunity arose to purchase the penthouse of 410 m² in São Conrado (RJ). To give the new home the family's style, architects Camila Simbalista and Paula Wetzel from Studio 021 Arquitetura and cast of CASACOR Rio de Janeiro got involved. Among the main requests, the residents desired special attention to the outdoor area, which included a barbecue, pool, hot tub, and sauna. "A significant modification was the elevation of the pool level, previously buried in the floor, to the height of the guardrail – which required considerable study and care with the structure of the property. Thus, those inside the pool have a clear view of the landscape, both the view of the sea and Pedra da Gávea. For the same reason, we designed a sauna with glass walls," says Camila. Around the pool, a fixed bench was installed, allowing more people to be accommodated when necessary, and the gourmet area received a countertop and wall cladding made of Matira quartzite. Another request was the selection of upholstery that could be used with wet clothing, as well as an easy maintenance floor – for this, a large-format light gray porcelain was chosen, which extends into the intimate living room, where the dining table from the gourmet area was placed, allowing its use even on rainy days. "The second floor was also expanded, with the closing of an external area at the back, to implement the master suite, with office, closets, and separate bathrooms for him/her," Paula adds. On the first floor, the main structural changes were the repositioning of the lavatory, the expansion of the kitchen to include a pantry and the integration of the balconies to the living rooms, giving greater amplitude to the rooms.

The existing staircase to the penthouse also underwent a remodel. "The old railing gave it a dated look, but since the steps are made of noble marble and it is very comfortable, we suggested keeping the staircase, covering the first step with wood and redoing the entire guardrail. Thus, we completely changed the aesthetic, which became harmonious with the rest of the project," explains Camila. In the decoration, the project combined urban references presented by the client, who is from São Paulo, with the more light, casual, and laid-back Carioca architecture, especially when it comes to a seaside residence. According to the architects, the green diptych by the visual artist Mai-Britt Wolthers, acquired at the beginning of the work and placed in the living room, guided the choice of furniture and its colors. "We adopted a neutral base, highlighting the prominence of the artworks, with the insertion of color points in details of the decoration – such as in the dark green upholstered chairs in the dining room. The oak woodwork is also present throughout the project, displaying various resources – such as flat panels, slatted panels, curved elements, and brises – which bring texture and warm the spaces, maintaining this neutrality," Paula describes. With the exception of the two Annette armchairs by Jorge Zalszupin, and some side tables that the residents brought from the previous apartment, all furniture is new. Among them, the round Twist coffee table and the Nuts pendant lamps designed by Jader Almeida, as well as the Gomos island sofa signed by Suite Design, stand out. Other highlighted artworks include a canvas by artist Esther Bonder in the dining room and a large wall sculpture by artist Armarinhos Teixeira. "The lightness in the decoration is achieved by combining wood panels, bringing coziness, in contrast with the cold floor and neutral walls that, along with the structural transformations, created a visual unity that runs through all the projects, making the property more spacious, welcoming, and contemporary," concludes Camila.