Galeria Apartment Blends Vintage with Contemporary Style

In a bustling and dynamic city where space is precious, and every square meter holds significant value in the most prime areas, a couple chose to reside in a 420m² apartment within a Haussmann-inspired building from the late 1970s, located in the Jardins district of São Paulo. This eccentric and unconventional home serves as both a living space and a contemplative environment, with a strongly present aesthetic.

Entering such an apartment feels like stepping into a gallery, as sunlight streams through the tall windows, casting soft shadows over meticulously curated pieces. Every object and piece of furniture is intentionally placed, as if the home itself hosts a continuous dialogue between design, architecture, and its residents. Here, the mundane transforms into an experience of the sublime; for this couple, to live poetically is to surround themselves with bespoke pieces of beauty and meaning.

While the concept is not entirely new, its resonance feels particularly timely. Opposing excess and the disposable, it whispers of a time when objects were crafted with care, intended to be cherished and passed down from generation to generation as part of a cultural legacy.

The interior design of the apartment was created by ARCHITECTS OFFICE, led by French architect Gregory Bousquet, who has been residing in Brazil for 24 years. Known to his clients as Greg, he merges the two seemingly dichotomous worlds of nature and organic forms—deeply present in Brazil, reflected in colors, textures, and the use of natural stones and wood in objects and finishes—with the European precision in spatial perception and design. His process always begins with a blank canvas, exploring a novel context and discovering a new encounter.

Inspiring environments, chairs that cradle not only the body but the spirit, tables that invite work and admiration, and a dialogue between vintage and contemporary are hallmarks of this project. There is a deliberate slowness, a silence, an invitation to pause, reflect, and engage with the space on a deeper level.

For the couple, making this choice requires a certain mindfulness, a desire to engage with their surroundings in a way that is both intimate and profound. It is a rejection of the ephemeral in favor of timeless living.

The project includes a home office, a cinema room with high-quality audiovisual design, as well as a dining room, living room, and a wine room. All these areas were dynamically arranged to facilitate interaction with friends and family.

One of the project’s greatest technical challenges was implementing a ducted air conditioning system and an efficient lighting design without using a false ceiling. To maintain the original ceiling height, all indirect lighting was integrated into the walls. The air conditioning system was cleverly concealed within decorative coves, preserving the spacious and classic aesthetic of the apartment while ensuring the necessary environmental comfort for the couple.

Galeria Apartment is a perfect synthesis of tradition and contemporary design, where interior design played a fundamental role in combining aesthetics and functionality. The result is a space that not only reflects the personalities of the residents but also adapts to their daily and social needs, demonstrating that respect for the original architectural features can coexist harmoniously with contemporary innovations.

Upon arrival in the gallery-like reception area, the private hall directs circulation in three directions: two opposite paths—towards the kitchen and dining room or the intimate area—and a passage to the living room with a veranda. To the right, a cloakroom space, fully clad in solid wood, was preserved to accommodate coats and umbrellas.

For the bar area, an annex was designed, featuring the Wyllis sideboard by Arthur Casas (Etel), two Tre Pezzi armchairs by Cassina, the Tapioca tea cart by designer Adalfan Filho (+55 Design), and the Tromso drinks side table by Wooding. The Tri candlestick by Dpot Objeto and the Skygarden lamp (Dimlux) accentuate the exhibit-like qualities of the space.

The dining room is anchored by the Amorfa table by Arthur Casas for Micasa, surrounded by Senior armchairs upholstered in dark green by Etel, designed by Jorge Zalszupin. Above, a black metal pendant with milky glass globes by Astep, also from Micasa, completes the space.

In the living room, the Standard sofa by Edra (Firmacasa) is complemented by Artik armchairs by Baxter (Casual) and the Ribbon chair by designer Pierre Paulin, specially upholstered in burnt yellow fabric for Galeria Apartment. The Apollo tables by Leo Lague for Micasa also feature prominently.

On the veranda, the Spun armchair by Firmacasa in purple tones dialogues with the Raviolo chair by Magis. In the left wing, the home office space is equipped with a Floe Insel sofa by Patricia Urquiola and a TV, which can also be viewed from the marble desk by Estúdio Rain, functioning as a desk placed near the building’s front-facing window. The space includes a Tekio Circular paper pendant lamp by Santa&Cole (Fas Iluminação) and the Presidential and Cubo armchairs, both by Zalszupin (Etel). The TV panel, meticulously designed by ARCHITECTS OFFICE, uses pau ferro wood to create a contrasting tone.

The TV room in the intimate area provides access to the two bedrooms and the master suite. Comfort is ensured by the Pillow sofa by Estúdio Bola, paired with a wooden cabinet with boiserie details, originally belonging to the owners, now featuring fluted glass doors.

The master suite occupies nearly 25% of the apartment’s footprint, comprising an anteroom, two closets, and two bathrooms. The bathrooms retain their Italian marble finishes on the floors, walls, and countertops. The ceilings in the shower areas feature smooth vaults that seamlessly merge with the walls. Decorative pieces complement the proposed aesthetic. Patricia Urquiola designed the couple’s Redondo bed, upholstered in blue. The bedside tables include Tempo by Olho, Pétala (Etel), and Metal Side by Vitra. There are also two armchairs from Micasa: Sesann, upholstered in black leather, and Reversível, covered in off-white fabric.

The powder room stands out with hand-painted wallpaper, custom-made for this project, featuring depictions of Brazilian fauna and flora by artist Nathalie Morhange.