The complete renovation of this 550 m² apartment facing São Conrado Beach in Rio de Janeiro started with the
integration of its internal and external views . The relaxed, very Carioca beach atmosphere, with a light color palette and touches of blue that evoke the sea were some of the requests the clients made to architect
Gisele Taranto , from the
CASACOR São Paulo 2024 cast. "We created a project with the concept of an '
urban beach '. We chose to design an apartment where the focus was to provide clients with a great experience of living by the sea, but enjoying the
comfort and
technology that are present in our cities", explains the office.
The original layout underwent many changes, the biggest of which was the
move of the master suite – which was located at the back of the apartment – to the front of the project, facing the sea.
The pantry was incorporated into the kitchen ; a “beauty salon” space, a playroom and two suites for the children were also created. In the social area, the
home theater is more private, but still maintains a connection with the
stunning sea view .
The choice of
coverings in the social area also took into consideration the 'urban beach' concept. Thus, the Travertine marble floor and the off-white Stucco walls,
which evoke the color of sand, were selected. In the private area, a light oak floor and white walls were used. "Taking into account the fishermen's houses made or covered with wooden planks, we opted to use
lacquered wood paneling to cover some walls and ceilings. The direction of the paneling strips varies in such a way that the traditional rhythm is deconstructed. Doors, cupboards and trapdoors are then disguised through this resource", he describes.
The decor features contemporary furniture of Brazilian and Italian design combined with antique furniture.
Many pieces of furniture from the old apartment were used ; more than that, the choices were made with the aim of making them part of the
collection that will accompany the clients' lives . Brands such as Flexform, Gervasoni, Poliform, Etel and pieces from antique dealer Arnaldo Danemberg are present. Shelves were also designed to organize books, objects and collections of sentimental value.
The collection of
works of art brings together Vik Muniz, Vergara, Marcos Chaves, Arthur Lescher, Adriana Varejão, Laura Vinci, Sérgio Sister, Gabriela Machado, Jorge Mayet, Carlito Carvalhosa and Alexandre Arrechea.
With its prime location, the apartment is bathed in
natural light throughout the day, eliminating the need for artificial lighting. In view of this, the lighting design aimed to highlight the works of art and the use of each space, and was concerned with specifying
equipment with low energy consumption and high performance . Some of these lighting fixtures were designed by Ingo Maurer, Jader Almeida and Michael Anastassiades.
Automation , in turn, complements the care taken to
minimize energy consumption . The use of flushing with a cistern built into the walls rationalizes water use. The air conditioning project prioritized machines that also aimed at energy efficiency.
Also noteworthy is the
landscaping by
Esther Bonder , who opted for plants that are integrated into the decor and suited to the local weather conditions. "In this world of 'everything at once', our homes have also come to play an important role in our daily tasks. We have time for connection and entertainment, but we also have
time for relaxation and slowing down . And it is precisely in the latter that the landscaping in this apartment comes into play. The plants do not just decorate the spaces; they aim to
restore the home's connection with nature ", concludes the office.
