A modernist São Paulo condo finds a brand new lease of life

When Bloco Arquitetos was known as upon for a modernist São Paulo condo renovation, the apply jumped on the alternative. Based mostly in Brasília, the studio was based by Daniel Mangabeira, Henrique Coutinho and Matheus Seco. In addition to designing modern items of up to date structure such because the Casa do Tijolos Brancos, the trio has a eager curiosity within the historical past and legacy of their house city, and their nation’s acclaimed architectural heritage.

So it’s no shock the workforce discovered enchantment within the historic 230 sq m condo within the Higienópolis district of the Brazilian metropolis, an upmarket space wealthy in architectural treasures, from shining examples of paulistano artwork deco designs to modernist tower blocks.

Tour this revived modernist São Paulo condo

The condo in query is located in a constructing by modernist structure consultant Rubens Camargo de Monteiro, a tower block positioned simply across the nook from the Museu de Arte Brasileira, itself stuffed with midcentury treasures. The property had a handful of hanging authentic options, together with a strong ipê wooden parquet ground laid in a double herringbone sample, which the workforce preserved and restored.

‘Rubens de Monteiro labored in São Paulo in the course of the Fifties and Nineteen Sixties,’ clarify the architects. ‘His Cuiabá constructing, the place this condo is positioned, was accomplished within the early Nineteen Sixties in Higienópolis. He was additionally a part of the workforce of architects that had been concerned within the building of considered one of Oscar Niemeyer’s most essential works in São Paulo, the OCA exhibition corridor on the Ibirapuera Park. He was one of many companions of the development firm that constructed it.’

The architects additionally peeled again a few of the layers gathered over time: the plaster on the perimeter partitions was eliminated to show the unique strong brick, whereas a skinny concrete ceiling was fastidiously taken right down to reveal a sequence of structural beams that had been included into the inside design.

‘Undoubtedly, the ceiling is our favorite component on this mission,’ say the architects. ‘The attractive construction was initially hidden by a skinny layer of concrete that had no structural operate. It labored like a suspended ceiling. We eliminated the skinny slab so we may expose the attractive sequence of parallel beams that type the ceiling construction.’

Having capitalised on the property’s authentic options, the architects then centered on rethinking the prevailing format to accommodate up to date household life. The important thing component of their transient included rising the reception house and higher connecting the kitchen with the eating room.

To take action they reconfigured the unique, compartmentalised format, which had a pantry between the kitchen and the lounge, a small service lavatory, a single suite, and a central vestibule. The architects eliminated the pantry to create a TV room and bigger kitchen, related to the eating room by sliding doorways and full with new terrazzo flooring. Additionally they created a bigger suite by combining two present bedrooms.

The brand new interiors had been furnished with the proprietor’s present assortment of up to date artwork and Brazilian design, together with ‘Mole’ and ‘Oscar’ armchairs and the ‘Mocho’ bench by Sérgio Rodrigues; the ‘Jangada’ armchair by Jean Gillon; and the ‘Pétala’ espresso desk and ‘Onda’ bench designed by Jorge Zalszupin.