Barão de Tatuí Penthouse Renovation by Pianca Arquitetura and Sabiá Arquitetos

Location: Vila Buarque, São Paulo, Brazil Architects: Pianca Arquitetura + Sabiá Arquitetos Area: 190 m² Year Completed: 2021 Lead Architects: Beatriz Marques de Oliveira, Beatriz Nobumoto, Guilherme Pianca, Nilton Suenaga Photography: Pedro Kok

A Penthouse Transformation Rooted in Light, Color, and Garden Integration

Located atop a mid-rise building in São Paulo’s vibrant Vila Buarque neighborhood, the Barão de Tatuí Penthouse underwent a bold and thoughtful renovation led by Pianca Arquitetura and Sabiá Arquitetos. The apartment presented an unusual starting point: a linear and irregular floor plan bordered on three sides by a generous wraparound balcony. The design strategy embraced this layout, reimagining the space as a house atop a building—one where indoor and outdoor life seamlessly converge.

Embracing the Terrace as a Living Element

The design intervention used the expansive balcony not merely as an extension but as a defining element of the interior layout. This continuous external perimeter guided the spatial organization within. Social spaces such as the kitchen and living room were placed at the wider end of the balcony near the entrance, creating a fluid transition from the inside to the shaded garden-like terrace.

At the corner, overlooking the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, a sculptural water tank and seating area were positioned beside the main bedroom, offering a contemplative outdoor retreat. On the opposite end, the narrower northern extension houses the laundry area, a secondary bedroom, and a guest bathroom—each with direct access to the outdoor space.

Restructuring and Re-roofing for Spatial Renewal

One of the key structural interventions involved rebuilding the deteriorated roof, which provided the opportunity to insert a shed-like structure for improved natural lighting. In shared living areas, the architects introduced a distinctive shelving system—vertical concrete septa filled with colorful joinery—that stitches together rooms of varying widths while acting as an expressive architectural element.

The removal of the original stucco ceilings revealed higher ceiling heights in the private rooms. Above the bathrooms, where lower heights sufficed, attic storage spaces were added to increase the apartment's functionality.

A Botanical Strategy for the Perimeter

To unify the varied conditions along the balcony, the team reimagined the parapet in cast-in-place reinforced concrete, providing visual consistency. A custom blue metal railing now wraps the apartment, alternating between two heights—one for open views and another embedded with steel cables to support climbing plants. This approach not only delineates circulation and programmatic areas but fosters a gradual greening of the façade.

The terrace is populated with flower boxes, water elements, and seating, each curated to match the adjacent room's function—creating a unique yet cohesive sequence of outdoor environments. Steel cables over the kitchen and laundry allow vines to provide seasonal shading, reinforcing the terrace’s role as an active, adaptable living space.

A Celebration of Color and Texture

Rejecting neutrality, the design is unapologetically vibrant. The new interior flooring features a red-toned burnt cement, creating warmth and continuity with the exterior. In the bathrooms, custom hydraulic tiles—pink and green in the main bath, yellow and pink in the secondary—add pattern and playfulness. The main bedroom includes a colorful ornamental tile carpet in blue, yellow, and pink tones, blending tradition with bold design.

The same burnt cement continues onto the covered balcony areas, blurring the boundary between inside and out. The open terrace is defined by gutters filled with green pebbles and textured concrete flooring with stone inlays, contributing to a tactile and earthy atmosphere.

Interior Atmospheres Defined by Hue

To further emphasize spatial identity, the architects employed a chromatic zoning strategy. Each interior space is marked by a distinct ceiling color: green in the main living nave, mustard in the reading room, and soft pink in intimate areas. Furniture choices echo this logic—a pink kitchen, a red-toned library, and green-toned surfaces offer a kaleidoscopic palette that reinforces each room’s character.

A Penthouse Rooted in Brazilian Identity and Architectural Innovation

The Barão de Tatuí Penthouse exemplifies the potential of urban renovation when landscape, color, and light are embraced as architectural materials. By transforming balconies into integrated living gardens, blurring lines between indoors and outdoors, and celebrating vibrant materiality, Pianca Arquitetura and Sabiá Arquitetos have delivered a singular residence that defies typical apartment conventions—a true house in the sky.