Onze22 Building by TRIPTYQUE Transforms São Paulo’s Skyline Through Transparency, Nature, and Urban Fluidity

Located in São Paulo’s vibrant Vila Madalena neighborhood, the Onze22 Building by renowned French-Brazilian firm TRIPTYQUE Architecture reimagines contemporary residential design by blending architecture with urban landscape. Commissioned by Idea!Zarvos, this 18,188-square-meter development goes beyond the conventional tower format, offering a visionary architectural response to the city’s density, light, and nature.

A Transparent and Fluid Living Concept

More than just an apartment block, Onze22 presents a bold architectural gesture: a series of suspended concrete slabs, interspersed with expansive glass walls that dissolve the boundary between inside and out. The transparency of the building offers 360-degree panoramic views of São Paulo, transforming the city itself into a visual extension of the interior spaces. Every apartment and studio features a fully glazed façade, embraced by deep, wraparound balconies that offer not only protection from the sun but also uninterrupted access to nature and light.

“Each point on the balcony invites you to observe São Paulo, providing endless views and, at the corners, the possibility of letting your gaze go in different directions,” says Gui Sibaud, co-founder of TRIPTYQUE.

Urban Integration and Nature-Inspired Design

Set at Rua Agissê 287, next to a lush public square, Onze22 is conceived as an architectural extension of the city’s green fabric. On the ground level, 6-meter-tall pilotis (stilts) elevate the building, allowing the public realm to flow beneath and into the site. This porous transition between public and private space echoes TRIPTYQUE’s belief in fostering urban permeability and social engagement.

“Pilotis allow for a smooth and diffused transition between the public (the street) and the private,” explains Olivier Raffaëlli, another founding partner.

The surrounding tropical landscape, designed by Rodrigo Oliveira, draws the lush vegetation of the adjacent square into the project. Without any perimeter fencing, the building’s organic geometry ensures that all sides function as façades — each elevation treated equally and interactively.

Architecture Without a Front or Back

In contrast to traditional developments, Onze22 offers dual towers — one for homes and another for studios — both rising in harmony from a unified base. The building’s lack of a defined “front” or “rear” adds to its immersive design philosophy, where every angle celebrates openness, light, and connection. Glazed common areas dissolve visual boundaries, offering continuity between shared interior spaces and the surrounding greenery.

Materiality, Light, and Thermal Comfort

Beyond aesthetics, Onze22’s glass skin and open design serve a functional purpose. Floor-to-ceiling glazing ensures that all units are bathed in natural daylight, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and enhancing the residents’ connection to the outdoors. Deep balconies provide thermal comfort and act as intermediate zones between the controlled indoor climate and the external environment.

From the lower floors that overlook the leafy square to the top levels that reveal breathtaking views of São Paulo, Onze22 is a model of biophilic and sustainable urban living — where architecture and nature coexist in seamless dialogue.

All the photographs are works of Maíra Acayaba e Edu Castello, Maíra Acayaba