A Deteriorating 1950s Apartment in São Paulo Gets Revamped and Greened-Up

One look at Apartment nº205 in downtown São Paulo and it’s clear that the homeowner has a passion for plants. When the brief came through for architect Ana Carolina de Siqueira and interior designer Carla de Souza Campos of Mana arquitetura, the creative duo knew that incorporating greenery throughout the 1,485-square-foot apartment would be paramount to the project.

"The client is a true nature lover," says Campos. "São Paulo is as urban as a city can get, so we started by thinking about how we could turn this apartment into an oasis." The primary goal for the renovation was to create a peaceful retreat where the owner could relax and feel connected to nature. But first, the existing apartment—with its small and compartmentalized gathering spaces—had to be reconfigured to create an interconnected living area, kitchen, laundry room, and work space that better fit the client’s needs.