Estúdio BRA renovates Copan Apartment in famed Niemeyer building

Brazilian design practice Estúdio BRA has reconfigured an apartment in the Oscar Niemeyer-designed Copan building in São Paulo, to make the most of its iconic facade.

The 175-square-metre residence was reorganised to maximise the natural light and highlight the architectural features of the building, designed by famed Brazilian modernist architect Niemeyer in 1966.

The aim was to better integrate the living spaces with the building's signature concrete and glass facade, which spans the full length and frames views of the skyline from within.

"We designed the layout to highlight the view from the 19th floor, where, between the concrete brises, you can't see cars or sidewalks — just the sky, buildings from different eras, and the Cantareira Mountain range," said Estúdio BRA founders André di Gregorio and Rodrigo Maçonilio.

The building's concrete structure is expressed throughout the residence as partitions that run perpendicular to the glazing.

Openings in the interior walls create a flow through from the living room to the dining room and then the kitchen, which was previously a bedroom.

A rounded, angled island topped with Espírito Santo marble extends from a concrete column into the new kitchen.

The same stone is applied as a counter and backsplash along the end wall, above tauarí wood planks that form cabinet doors.

"Bathed in natural light, this area gains both visual and tactile comfort through its textures, creating an atmosphere of delight and tranquillity," said the studio.

Marking the transition into the home's private spaces, the floor is raised by 18 centimetres and pink-toned precast concrete forms the step's edge before transitioning to terracotta tiles.

At this threshold – where the kitchen used to be – a niche cut into a white partition wall creates a compact home office space, where wooden shelves provide storage and a desk.

The pink terrazzo appears again in the bathrooms as square tubs and vanity counters that pop against the white-tiled walls and floors.

"Through a careful curation of design and materials, the Copan Apartment emerges as a unique project, embracing every ray of light that filters through its expansive windows," said Estúdio BRA.

"The result is a warm, sophisticated home, perfectly suited for family living."

Di Gregorio and Maçonilio founded their firm in 2012 and aim to imbue Brazilian identity into each of their projects, such as a slender home they designed in São Paulo.

Niemeyer designed several large-scale apartment buildings during his career, including an experimental structure for a social housing initiative in Berlin.

The photography is by Maíra Acayaba.

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