Enviable eyrie

Designed by Diego Revollo Arquitetura

From the architect:

With a breathtaking perspective of Ibirapuera’s woods and monumental complex framed by São Paulo’s skyline, this 600m² apartment already offered a visual spectacle by itself. 

Our challenge was to turn it into a home for a couple and their son, emphasising aspects of their contemporary lifestyle and specific personalities, searching for a balanced refinement and prizing such a privileged panorama over the city.

One of the main desires of our apartment owners was to have an integrated open-plan social area. 

Since the central concept of our project considered the dissolution of boundaries between inside and outside – so that the apartment interiors could welcome and incorporate the scene over the park – we proposed to extend the living area to the generous glazed terrace which surrounded it. 

For that purpose, the original apertures which separated the terrace from the living room have been enlarged and received minimalist frames, in order not to compete with the perspectives they are intended to frame.

Materials and finishings have also been considered in terms of that integration. 

Gris Armani marble, introduced in slabs of maximum length, covers the entire social area, with no gap between living room and terrace, promoting a sophisticated and sober effect. 

Walls have all been painted white, reinforcing the perception of a purist architectural language. 

Moreover, to complete this neutral basis, an outstanding millwork panel, in medium grey, has been designed to cover the gallery walls and conceal the social restroom, the intimate hallway and the kitchen doors, together with the huge sliding door that shelters the apartment’s social entrance hall.

The entry hall deserves special attention due to its exquisite execution with seamless finish, notwithstanding its generous 3m plus width.

However, in order for the apartment to translate the owners’ joie de vivre, the decor has been given an elegantly orchestrated vibrant colour palette. 

Speaking to the neutral base, shades of bordeaux, blue and mustard colour were chosen to provide the social area with a unique personality. 

Furniture curation has also been thought through to reinforce a contemporary atmosphere, even though pieces from different periods of design history have been selected. 

In the living room, the modern sobriety of the armchairs signed by Zalszupin goes along with the standout Nepal Mama armchair, by Paola Navona for Baxter. 

By the fireplace, Vladimir Kagan’s curved sofa, upholstered in bordeaux velvet, recalls the sculptural lines of the Sol armchair, by Constance Guisset for Molteni, and of the legendary Accordo coffee table, by Charlotte Perriand, reedited by Cassina. 

In the dining area, the Executive Saarinen chairs, upholstered in blue velvet, highlight the minimalism of Jader Almeida’s table and also harmonise with the pair of art déco sideboards, designed by our firm for this project.

Further, some special requests had been addressed by the owners at the beginning of the project. 

For our apartment owner, a renowned caterer of the São Paulo scene, it was essential to transform the kitchen into a convivial area. 

In that sense, our suggestion to integrate the kitchen to the social area was willingly accepted. 

The project of a bi-fold door, together with one pivot leaf, makes possible either a partial opening, providing a simple access to the kitchen on formal occasions, or its total integration to the dining area, ensuring to our owner the possibility to cook while enjoying a beautiful view over Ibirapuera Park's green horizon.

In order to provide a more fluid circulation and a more pleasant experience in the kitchen, we proposed a central island for cooking, with an adjacent table for more intimate occasions and a high glass cabinet serving as both china closet and wine cellar. 

We also increased the area, eliminating the breakfast room and providing direct access to the terrace. 

There, the original barbecue area gave place to a vertical garden – the perfect environment for al fresco meals.

In the sleeping area, the son’s bedroom, designed in a playful style, was inspired by the nautical universe – one of the teenager’s passions. 

For the owner couple, the need of a home office required some layout redefinitions. 

One of the original bedrooms has been integrated to the master bedroom, through special sliding doors in extra clear frosted glass, in order to provide an area for library, work desk and an intimate living space. 

With flawless millwork for the bookshelves and a sober palette punctuated by colourful elements, such as the books themselves and other decoration objects, the space reiterates the same elegance observed throughout the entire apartment.

We should also emphasise the diligence and care of all details in the apartment, one of the main aspects of our firm's projects. 

Finishings of the doors, panels, inverted skirting boards and handles have all been executed in brushed stainless steel. 

The linear shelf of the home theatre has inclinated design drawers in Calacatta Macchia Oro finish, together with the delicate structure in polished stainless steel, which provide the piece with lightness and refinement. 

Moreover, the curvilinear millwork of the fireplace, precisely executed, contributes to further ennoble the area, synthesising the contemporary and sophisticated aura of the apartment's owners.

Designed by: Diego Revollo

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Fran Parente