This compact 41m² apartment in Vila Mariana, São Paulo, was acquired by its buyer off-plan, and arrived at the offices
of Estúdio Auna and
Studio Monfré Arquitetura , who are responsible for the interior design, with some modifications made by the construction company. Despite this, The new home of a single man and his two dogs underwent almost no structural changes; therefore, all the pre-existing finishes were maintained, with the exception of the balcony floor, which needed to be integrated. “We started the project just before he got the keys; and one of the client’s main requests was that the apartment had a good storage area, since his current apartment was twice the size,” says architect Ana Carolina Maia, from Auna Studio.
Thus, the office duo sought to maintain the urban atmosphere of the
décor through materiality, custom-made furniture and
layout solutions, which ensured the apartment had good circulation and good lighting despite the reduced space. The idea is that the property can also serve for rent in the future, due to its practicality.
The living room and balcony were integrated to ensure better use of space. A rebar shelving unit with smooth sheet metal shelves and niches of different colors and shapes was designed for the living room, which ended up becoming one of the main elements. of the project; in addition to a low piece of furniture for storing equipment. Visually light, the shelf was finished in a color similar to that of the wall, which guaranteed the feeling of unity. On the opposite side, a cement board coating was applied, which gave a urban atmosphere.
Right next to the entrance of the apartment, a small bench was designed to serve as a support for those who enter. Multifunctional, it shelters, below it, an auxiliary counter for meals. The idea was to design it with wheels so that the resident could eventually move it -her to the balcony if she wanted.
In the bedroom, the architects focused on lighting to provide even more comfort. Colors were used in the decor, but all in neutral tones, so as not to overload the look. Finally, the washroom areas were kept mostly as they were delivered by the designer. construction company. Countertops, metals and crockery did not undergo any changes; only the carpentry, the shower enclosure and the niche were included.
