Simão Álvares Apartment Set in Historical São Paulo Building

Simão Álvares Apartment contains a brick wall stripped back to its original construction material, completed in São Paulo, Brazil.

The interiors of Simão Álvares Apartment are complemented by exposed concrete beams, designed by ARKITITO Arquitetura.

“On the balcony, concrete pillars and beams were uncovered, preserving their structural beauty,” ARKITITO Arquitetura said.

The interior design favours minimal use of neutral tones, providing a complementary backdrop for the exposed brick and concrete elements.

“The entrance wall of the living room stripped to expose the solid bricks of the original construction”, said ARKITITO Arquitetura.

“Other surfaces were painted off-white, enhancing the reflection of natural light,” it continued.

New carpentry was integrated with a shelving unit and planter to serve as a partition between the dining room and the balcony.

The interior work acts to preserve the apartment’s original finishes, respecting the building’s heritage.

The project also adds new beige hexagonal and reddish-brown square tiles for flooring and covering half the height of the bathroom walls.

“The apartment never been renovated, and like many buildings of its time, its rooms were mostly dark and compartmentalized,” said the studio.

ARKITITO created a neutral backdrop for the furniture and décor, with wooden floors preserved in all social areas.

“The ensemble comprises three-story buildings set in a lush and tranquil area, still preserved today, and listed by the Municipal Council for the Preservation of Historical, Cultural and Environmental Heritage of São Paulo (Conpresp) as historical heritage,” the studio commented.

The apartment features a generous dining table surrounded by a set of six red, green, blue and yellow chairs, designed by Brazilian designer Fernando Jaeger.

“The dining room conceived as the main space,” said ARKITITO.

It also features a new buffet table and a pair of wall sconces designed by the resident’s father.

“A strategically placed opening accommodates a small countertop for quick meals in the resident’s daily routine,” it said.

The kitchen cabinets feature a white laminate finish, stopping at the beam height without reaching the ceiling.

The new living room was placed on the balcony, offering an intimate environment with views of the surrounding treetops.

Simão Álvares Apartment houses three bedrooms, with one transformed into a TV room and another into an office and music room.

The apartment recognises the value of older buildings, especially with the trend of demolitions in the local area.

It maintains individual rooms instead of open-plan spaces to reflect its original layout, whilst introducing small adjustments, such as a fully glazed set of double doors to allow for more light to circulate.

“The project aimed to enhance natural light between the front and rear facades, integrating the balcony, living room, and kitchen into a cohesive axis”, said ARKITITO.