This
120 m² apartment is located in front of
Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (RJ) and was purchased by the couple to stay with their family when they came to the capital of Rio de Janeiro – they both have children from their first marriage, as well as grandchildren. The property was quite outdated and, as it needed an infrastructure renovation, the clients asked
Pílula Arquitetura to design a complete renovation project.
"In addition to changing the original layout of the rooms to integrate the
kitchen with the
living room (since they both like to cook), they wanted a third bedroom and to expand the old bathroom. In addition, they also asked for a complete architectural, carpentry, lighting and interior design project," they say.
The previous owner had already eliminated one of the three original
bedrooms to enlarge the living room,
exposing the pillar next to the kitchen . In the new project, instead of using a traditional dining table, the architects chose to design an organically designed table (in brushed gray marble) around it, which rests against the kitchen counter, made of the same material.
According to the architects, the main idea behind the project was to find a balance between the
architecture of the building built in the 1970s and the clients' vast collection of
vintage and classic period furniture , with highlights including the
Maralunga sofas (designed by
Vico Magistretti for the Italian Cassina in 1974), the antique
crystal chandelier , the
pair of Louis XV-style armchairs and the 1950s coffee table by
Giuseppe Scapinelli .
In terms of décor, they also highlight the living room
curtains , made of wine-colored velvet at the suggestion of one of the client's daughters. "We loved the idea, because it brought a bit of São Paulo's glamour to Rio, framed the lagoon and, at the same time, helped with the acoustics, reinforced by the new PVC windows," says Richard.
To contrast with the old furniture, the architects used interior architecture solutions that recall the
industrial style, leaving both the
raw concrete pillars and beams and the galvanized steel conduits through which the new electrical network and lighting points pass exposed.
