Carbon Apartment by CODA Arquitetura – Modern Apartment Renovation in Asa Norte, Brasília

Carbon Apartment, located in Asa Norte, Brasília, is a contemporary residential renovation designed by CoDA Arquitetura. Completed in 2023, the project spans 1,647 ft² and showcases a harmonious blend of international influences, sophisticated materiality, and functional design. The apartment was designed for a couple who were living in Jakarta, Indonesia, during the design process, presenting the unique challenge of remote collaboration across time zones. CoDA Arquitetura successfully managed the project through meticulous video documentation and strategic communication, ensuring the clients’ vision was fully realized.

Design Concept: The overarching design approach treated the architecture as a neutral background, emphasizing the couple’s curated collection of furniture and objects from their travels. The apartment reflects a cosmopolitan, international aesthetic, balancing minimalist neutral tones with rich material textures that convey warmth, personality, and elegance.

Spatial Planning: A key design goal was to integrate social areas with the kitchen, creating a spacious and flexible layout for entertaining family and friends. A custom concrete bench runs along the length of the room by the window, providing additional seating and versatile spatial arrangements in the central living area.

The kitchen was thoughtfully expanded by removing the service room, featuring a wired glass partition that separates it from the laundry while maximizing natural light. The redesign also included the redistribution of wet areas, adding a new toilet alongside the existing bathrooms to enhance functionality.

Materials and Aesthetic: Materiality plays a central role in the apartment’s sophisticated atmosphere. In the kitchen, Hitam volcanic stone from Indonesia serves as the main focal point, paired with São Gabriel granite countertops, graphite-toned joinery, and dark gray flooring to create dramatic visual planes. The contrast of these dark elements with the plaster ceiling enhances depth and texture.

The living room complements the kitchen with a reversal of color logic, highlighting a massive concrete slab and exposed beams overhead. Original parquet flooring and white walls maintain a neutral palette, accentuating the authentic textures of materials while reinforcing a minimalist and elegant interior aesthetic.

All Photographs are works of Larissa Sad