When architect
Hugo Rapizo learned that an apartment in the same building where he lived with his wife and two young daughters was for sale, he had no doubts: he bought the
98 m² property , even though he knew he would have to face
renovations . The view of the greenery of the Laranjeiras neighborhood (RJ), the layout and the high incidence of sunlight were the key factors in his decision.
Among the main changes to the property's layout, the architect says
he eliminated the wall that separated the living room from the kitchen to create a dining area in the former pantry space, leaving the three areas integrated . "This change considerably increased the entry of natural light, both in the kitchen and in the darkest part of the living room," he says.
In addition, the ceiling lining in the living area was removed to increase the height of the ceiling, leaving the
exposed beams in raw concrete, and the wall in the suite facing the hallway was knocked down to transform the couple's old closet into an office.
The project makes clear references to the modernism of the 1950s and 1960s through some brutalist elements, such as exposed beams, looser furniture (instead of super-planned joinery) and lots of plants. In terms of decor, with the exception of the
Mole armchair (signed by Sergio Rodrigues and recently found at auction), the side table and the black wall lamp, practically all the furniture was taken from the old apartment, such as the sofa, the rack, the dining table and the chairs. The new carpentry and the
tiled bench on the balcony were designed by the architect, tailored for the new apartment.
Overall, the
color palette is very neutral, consisting of
beige, brown, natural wood, gray and white , punctuated by the green of the plants. “The idea was to create a spacious space that was not visually overwhelming, but that had personality. And that the final result would give the apartment a homely atmosphere,” summarizes Hugo.
The architect also avoided finishing in strong colors to convey calm, comfort and a welcoming feeling and, at times, to rescue emotional memories, such as the
glass brick that hides the side of the refrigerator, the ceramic floor of the balcony (which resembles old brick tiles) and the back of the sofa, upholstered in caramel leather. Originally from the apartment,
the parquet floor was kept and restored, while the walls were painted white, almost like a framework for infinite possibilities.
