No white! 180 m² apartment in Copacabana turns into an industrial loft

No white in this loft with a cosmopolitan style that could be anywhere in the world: the property, a standard apartment of 180 m² in Copacabana (RJ), originally had three bedrooms and became an urban, industrial home at the hands of the VRO Arquitetura studio, by architect Vivian Reimers, part of the lineup of CASACOR Rio de Janeiro. The project completely transformed the original floor plan, creating a large open, fluid, fully integrated space, as the residents wanted – a couple who live with two pets and have lived in other countries.

Project by Vivien Reimers. (Luiza Schreier/CASACOR)

"The architectural proposal was to completely redesign the layout, eliminating the original compartmentalization to create a space that recalled the classic New York Soho lofts, where exposed structures, raw materials, and open spaces become a home of style and personality," says Vivian.

Project by Vivien Reimers. (Luiza Schreier/CASACOR)

"The starting point was an emphatic request from the owners: no white! They wanted their first own property to reflect their light, adventurous lifestyle, the kind of people who love to travel, host friends and family at home, and celebrate," says Vivian. With that in mind, the architect opted for a sophisticated gray palette, dark textures, deep woods, as well as metal structures and exposed beams.

Project by Vivien Reimers. (Luiza Schreier/CASACOR)

In the living room, one of the highlights is the sculptural shelving unit with its central axis and metal planks that allow multiple uses: sometimes as supports, sometimes side tables, and even benches. A singular piece that converses perfectly with the millwork and furniture design entirely developed by the studio for the couple. The bar and the TV/home-office unit were also made of sheet metal and received a matte finish and perforated grilles, which lends a certain lightness to the pieces.

Project by Vivien Reimers. (Luiza Schreier/CASACOR)

Targeted lighting was designed to enhance textures, highlight volumes, and create scenes that change throughout the day. Materials such as burnished cement, steel, champagne glass, and dark wood reinforce the urban style, without giving up a cozier feel.

Project by Vivien Reimers. (Luiza Schreier/CASACOR)

Completely integrated with the social area, the kitchen follows the same industrial style as the entire project. But its layout was one of the major challenges of the work, since demolishing all the walls exposed the building’s vertical plumbing pipes, which could not be removed or rerouted. The solution was to clad the columns to use them as supports for a metal structure that is suspended over the stove. In this way, they were incorporated into the design naturally.

Project by Vivien Reimers. (Luiza Schreier/CASACOR)

"Nothing here is obvious. Everything was carefully designed and conceived as an extension of the project’s language: functional, visually light, and with its own identity. Even the pops of color appear in a measured way in sentimental objects that the residents brought from their travels around the world," the architect notes.

Project by Vivien Reimers. (Luiza Schreier/CASACOR)

The private area maintains the proposal of open spaces, since the master suite integrates bedroom, closet, and bathroom in a single fluid and harmonious project. To ensure privacy without losing the sense of breadth and lightness, a delicate muxarabi panel functions as a partition between the areas, allowing natural light in and visual dialogue between the spaces.

Project by Vivien Reimers. (Luiza Schreier/CASACOR)

The highlight of the bathroom is the soaking tub, which invites relaxation. The bedroom, in turn, received a special piece of furniture for the pets: the multifunctional piece has, on the top, a bench with futons that serves as a bed. Meanwhile, on the lower part, there is a cool, cozy space for the pets to cool off and rest on hotter days.

Project by Vivien Reimers. (Luiza Schreier/CASACOR)

"The result of this project goes beyond style. It is an affectionate, sophisticated portrait of the residents’ journey. Every centimeter of the home reflects their history, their tastes, their way of living. It is a loft with an industrial soul, yes, but also personal, emotional, and authentic. A place where the urban meets the intimate and where design is the silent language of memory," Vivian concludes.