Noble materials and a privileged view define a 640 m² apartment in Rio

Located in Barra da Tijuca (RJ), this 640 m² apartment was completely renovated by architect Cristina Côrtes – from the cast of CASACOR Rio de Janeiro – to become the new home of a couple with three children. The property, completely linear and with five suites — four with closets and one adapted as an office —, offers an amazing view of the sea, the Olympic golf course, the reserve, and the Marapendi lagoon. "They came to me through a referral from another client," says Cristina Côrtes.

Before the move, the family lived in a spacious three-story house with a swimming pool and extensive leisure area. With the children grown and using the spaces less and less, they realized that the house had become larger than they really needed. In search of more security and practicality, they decided to exchange the residence for the apartment, which brings together only the essentials for daily life while maintaining a sense of spaciousness.

Among the couple's main requests were a complete renovation of all rooms, the creation of a large wine cellar, and enhancing the privileged view, also achieved through the decor itself, planned not to compete with the landscape, but to highlight it. On the floor plan, the balcony was integrated into the living room, and the daughter's closet was expanded by incorporating the closet area from one of the bedrooms, which was transformed into an office. The social area was divided into living, dining, and TV spaces, as well as a lounge, gourmet area, and a generous "walk-in" climate-controlled wine cellar, internally clad in freijó and Sensa Macalan quartzite.

The concept of the project prioritized sophistication, evidenced by the combination of noble materials, such as Sensa Macalan and Sensa Matira quartzites, with a neutral palette that enhances the large canvas of artist Solferini, commissioned during the project's development. All the furniture in the living room is new, including some pieces designed by architect and designer Patrícia Anastassiadis.

The floor of the apartment, except for the bathrooms, is made of Navona travertine marble, preserved from the original project. The woodwork in the social area, designed by the architect, was executed in Tortona melamine laminated MDF (dark caramel tone) and light gray lacquer, with finishes sometimes in microtexture, sometimes in high gloss, except in the interior of the wine cellar, which received natural freijó veneer.

In the couple's suite, the intimate hall gained a vanity accompanied by the Beg chair, by Sérgio Rodrigues, and the Brise coatrack, by Lattoog, breaking the monotony of the long corridor that leads to the bedrooms, their closets, and their respective bathrooms. The master bathroom stands out for its complete covering of Monte Cristo dolomitic marble.

[caption id="697e92dd36c2c45528cbd149" width="736" data-alt="Noble materials and privileged view define the 640 m² apartment in Rio" data-caption="Noble materials and privileged view define the 640 m² apartment in Rio" data-credit="Photo: Juliano Colodeti, from MCA Estudio | Visual production: Studio Jefferson Stunner" data-source-id="68f2b8ff98f18c7f5f5e4dea" data-source-name="CASACOR"][/caption>

"The project was a pleasure to develop. The clients were extremely participative and spared no effort to ensure that everything was executed exactly according to our planning. Today, they are very happy with the choice to swap the house for the apartment because, in addition to feeling safer, they enjoy a more welcoming home,” concludes architect Cristina Côrtes. The entire process, from conception to execution and finalization of the decor, took about 10 months.