Praça Apartment Renovation Design: Embracing Openness and Authentic Materials

The Praça Apartment, designed by EIXO Z arquitetos, is a 70-square-meter space located in a building crafted by the renowned Brazilian architect Artacho Jurado. Situated in São Paulo’s vibrant Vila Buarque neighborhood, the project was conceived for a young architect and co-author of the design. This comprehensive renovation transformed the apartment into a flexible and multifunctional environment, blending modern aesthetics with the building's historical essence.

Open-Plan Living for a Versatile Lifestyle

To reflect the resident's laid-back lifestyle and love for hosting social events, the renovation removed all partitions except the bathroom walls, resulting in an open-plan space that combines areas for cooking, working, sleeping, and entertaining. This design philosophy prioritizes fluidity and encourages overlapping uses, creating a dynamic environment tailored to both intimate moments and lively gatherings.

Honoring the Building’s Material Heritage

The project embraced the raw beauty of natural materials, stripping back columns, beams, and slabs to expose their original gray concrete. The walls were left bare to reveal their solid brick construction, celebrating the authentic craftsmanship of the building. The design carefully integrated these raw elements with contemporary touches, achieving a harmonious balance between old and new.

The Concrete Bench: A Guiding Architectural Element

A defining feature of the apartment is the custom-designed concrete bench that stretches from the entrance to the far end near the windows. Inspired by the public benches found in city squares, this element serves as both a functional piece of furniture and an architectural backbone, organizing the space without creating divisions. Its sleek and linear design enhances the apartment's openness while maintaining its visual unity.

Indoor-Outdoor Connection with City Views

The apartment’s large floor-to-ceiling windows overlook iconic São Paulo landmarks such as Praça Roosevelt, the Copan Building, and Edifício Itália. To enhance the connection with the outdoors, the design focused on the areas near the windows, incorporating rolled river stones, hanging plants, and versatile furniture like a bistro table and hammock. This arrangement fosters a sense of outdoor living within the apartment's interior, creating a serene and airy atmosphere.

A Crystalline Bedroom Enclosure

For the bedroom, a translucent polycarbonate cube was designed to provide privacy while preserving the open-plan layout. Framed in steel, this lightweight structure creates a delicate interplay of light and shadow, adding a contemporary touch to the industrial aesthetic. In contrast, the cabinetry made of marine plywood introduces bold colors and solid forms, fulfilling practical storage needs while adding warmth to the space.

Personalized Interiors and Thoughtful Details

The resident's curated collection of furniture, artwork, and personal objects adds character to the space. A mix of new and inherited pieces, along with books and knick-knacks, complements the apartment’s architectural elements. The layering of textures, from smooth concrete to rough brick, alongside vibrant furnishings, creates a cozy and welcoming environment that is both stylish and deeply personal.

A Blueprint for Adaptive Living

The Praça Apartment renovation showcases how thoughtful design can create a harmonious blend of historical authenticity, modern functionality, and personal expression. By emphasizing openness, natural materials, and a connection to the cityscape, EIXO Z arquitetos has crafted a space that resonates with the resident’s lifestyle and the architectural heritage of São Paulo.

All Photographs are work of Miti Sameshima