An Apartment in São Paulo’s Famous Lausanne Building Gets a Glowing Facelift

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Project Details:

Location: São Paulo, Brazil

Architect: Superlimão

From the Architect: "Superlimão created the architectural design for the Lausanne Apartment, which bears the name of the historical building in which it is located: the Lausanne Building, the work of Franz Heep in the Higienópolis district. The renovation was done for a couple and their two children, a family that already lived in the area and had always admired the building.

"Respecting the existing architecture, the Superlimão design eliminated most of the original compartmentalization, paving the way for the passage of natural light as well as cross-ventilation from both sides of the building. On the second floor, both the social and private areas of the apartment gained significant light.

"An interesting highlight is the large volume that was made to unify the kitchen and the dining room for residents who like to cook while enjoying the company of family and friends around the table. The countertop is at times a counter with a sink, stove, and pantry, but it can be easily converted into a dining table.

"Original elements of the building were incorporated, such as the concrete pillars and the pre-existing floor, which was restored. Another reference to the architecture of the Lausanne Building is the internal partitioning: hollow panels in metalwork reproduce the design of the facade's shutters, creating a permeable view between the large dining room and the corridor leading to the bedrooms.

"The private area consists of a suite for the couple and a bedroom for the two sons. For the latter, Superlimão designed a metal structure that houses two beds and still creates space for play on the second level. The third bedroom of the original floor plan was transformed into an office, allowing integration through the living room or balcony. It also has closures in large sliding woodwork doors for when privacy is needed.

"Light tones are predominate in the color palette for the walls. More intense colors appear at specific points, such as the hydraulic tiles on the balcony, the office door, the metal shelves in the kitchen, the bathroom used by the children, and the flower tiles in the half bath, which were recovered from the old kitchen and adapted for a new use."