Arches Apartment Renovation by Ana Sawaia Arquitetura + Estúdio Paulo Alves

Architectural Heritage and Original Structure

The apartment is housed within a building celebrated for its vaulted concrete structure with arched profiles, reminiscent of a Roman aqueduct. This pioneering engineering solution eliminated interior pillars, relying solely on façade supports, and allowed the rapid construction of sequential arches. The result is a striking interior rhythm that blends functionality with timeless architectural elegance.

Renovation Concept: Preserving and Enhancing Modernism

The renovation aimed to strip away excess finishes from previous modifications, restoring the apartment’s original modernist character. The architects chose to highlight the exposed concrete arches and bring natural textures back into prominence. Walls were torn down to merge the kitchen, office, and living areas, creating an expansive open-plan social space for a young couple and their two teenage children.

Spatial Organization and Interior Design

The 280 m² apartment was redesigned to maximize light, openness, and family interaction. Key interventions included:

• Integrated Social Spaces: Half the apartment was transformed into a free-flowing living, dining, and kitchen area.
• Polymeric Cement Flooring: Applied throughout the living and wet areas, ensuring durability and waterproofing without excessive demolition.
• Restored Wooden Floors: Original wood flooring in bedrooms and hallways was carefully repaired, maintaining warmth against the concrete backdrop.
• Modular Wooden Decks: Added in porches and showers to create cozy, natural-feeling transitions.

Lighting and Atmosphere

The renovation revealed an unexpected design advantage: the arched vaults acted as natural reflectors, amplifying LED lighting across the interiors. This minimized the need for artificial ceilings, with drywall only used where necessary for air-conditioning infrastructure. The result is a balance between modern comfort and architectural authenticity.

Materials and Furnishings

The project harmoniously blends raw concrete with warm wooden elements, complemented by furnishings from Estúdio Paulo Alves and other Brazilian design studios. This combination respects the modernist aesthetic while adding a layer of coziness and contemporary style.

A Celebration of Structure as Architecture

Rather than concealing its bones, the Arches Apartment celebrates them. The exposed concrete vaults are not just structural—they are the architecture itself. The project embodies flexibility, generosity, and timelessness, making it a landmark example of modernist renovation in São Paulo.

All the photographs are works of Carolina Lacaz