With just 32 m², the studio gains functionality with planned woodworking.

Located in the Port Zone of Rio de Janeiro, this studio apartment, with only 32 m², was purchased off-plan from the developer by a young single man to be his base in the capital – for work or leisure – and also serves as a vacation rental. The task of renovating the entire property to make it both functional and chic, light, and elegant, despite its small size, was assigned to architect Leandro Neves, part of the CASACOR Rio de Janeiro lineup. With the renovation, which took two months to complete, Leandro kept the original wooden floor provided by the developer and, to create a visual unity and 'elongate' the space, replicated the material on the ceiling instead of lowering it with drywall. Additionally, the architect removed the existing stainless steel countertop in the kitchen to install a gray melamine cabinetry block, which now houses not only the new countertop but also the cabinets, built-in electric oven, and the refrigerator camouflaged in the door. On the same wall, near the window, another cabinetry block with the same characteristics was installed – this time serving as a wardrobe and workspace – to delineate the bedroom. Two upper shelves connect the two blocks, and the space between them (clad from floor to ceiling with rock-like porcelain tiles) accommodates the TV and a bar cart, thus defining the living area. "In a single design, the multi-functional woodworking designed by me crosses the entire apartment and tackles the lack of space," highlights Leandro.

In the decor, which follows a rational minimalist style, the base of the color palette consists of blue, white, and gray. Being cool and neutral colors, the architect added elements of light wood and leather to warm the space. "This mix of materials and colors created a timeless, sophisticated, and balanced atmosphere, providing a sense of relaxation and calmness," he says. The blue textured fabric sofa, for instance, evokes the sea, while the white texture of the walls resembles granulated salt. To enhance the feeling of spaciousness and amplify the presence of natural light, the wall beside the sofa and the backsplash of the kitchen were covered with mirrors. Most of the furniture is designer-made, prominently featuring the sofa by Felipe Madeira and the dining chair by Tiago Curioni. The photographs are authored by the architect himself, from the series "Architecture that touches the sky", taken in Paris, Porto Alegre, Chile, Fortaleza, and Rio de Janeiro. In the bedroom, notice how the blue curtain rod aligns with the color and height of the upholstered bed's headboard, made in the same sturdy linen as the sofa. In the only bathroom of the property, Leandro replaced the floor and wall tiles in the shower, the sink, and the toilet, and wallpapered the dry area with linen-textured wallpaper.