A Fresh Remodel Uncovers The Original Beauty Of A Historic Apartment in Brazil

This is the newly designed interior of an apartment situated within the Trussardi building in Brazil. The historical importance of the building which was built back in 1943 made the remodel of this apartment particularly challenging. It was not in the sense that it posed limitations but rather in the sense that a lot of the original architectural details and features had been covered up and altered by previous renovation.

The kitchen cabinetry extends around the corner into the living area
The kitchen cabinetry extends around the corner into the living area

This time the idea was to bring back these elements and to at the same time put a modern spin on the new interior design. The project was done by Estúdio Lava in 2017 and was a major success. In addition to the historical component, there was another challenge in the form of the apartment’s odd and unconventional layout. It has a curved balcony which was previously enclosed in glass and rooms with unusual orientations and diagonal placements.

The laundry room has a bright and clean aesthetic similar to that of the kitchen
The laundry room has a bright and clean aesthetic similar to that of the kitchen
One of the bedrooms was integrated into the living room, leaving two separate ones
One of the bedrooms was integrated into the living room, leaving two separate ones
By removing the glass enclosure around the balcony the designers expanded the living area and filled it with light
By removing the glass enclosure around the balcony the designers expanded the living area and filled it with light
The kitchen has an asymmetrical layout, with one of the wall placed at an angle
The kitchen has an asymmetrical layout, with one of the wall placed at an angle

During the remodel the majority of the interior walls in the apartment were taken down. That meant a restructuring of the existing layout. The balcony was once again opened and connected to the living area and one of the bedrooms was also integrated into this space. By doing that the architects created better cross ventilation throughout the apartment and managed to bring more natural light inside as well. To make up for the lack of interior walls they designed a custom sliding bookcase which can be easily moved around and which can either connect or divide the areas.

The custom bookcase slides on metal tracks and functions as a flexible room divider
The custom bookcase slides on metal tracks and functions as a flexible room divider
The apartment's unique curved facade inspired a series of interior design details like the shape of the kitchen counter
The apartment’s unique curved facade inspired a series of interior design details like the shape of the kitchen counter

This offers a variety of different possibilities regarding the way in which these spaces are used. The kitchen layout and design also help to bring the spaces closer together and make the transitions seamless. Another big change in terms of layout was the addition of a second small bathroom to be used by guests. These modifications help to optimize the apartment from a functional point of view, to make it look and feel more modern but they also help to uncover some of the original design details of the space and to pay homage to the beautiful architecture of this historic building.

The wooden parquet floor becomes a focal point for the whole apartment
The wooden parquet floor becomes a focal point for the whole apartment
The darker wood featured in the bedroom contrasts with the light blues and grays from the bathroom
The darker wood featured in the bedroom contrasts with the light blues and grays from the bathroom
A custom vanity was designed for this curved bathroom corner, making the most of this odd layout
A custom vanity was designed for this curved bathroom corner, making the most of this odd layout
A second bathroom was added for the guest room and for overall convenience
A second bathroom was added for the guest room and for overall convenience
A variety of exposed concrete surfaces and features can be seen throughout the apartment including here
A variety of exposed concrete surfaces and features can be seen throughout the apartment including here