Located in São Paulo, Brazil, the Terrazzo Apartment designed by Studio Arthur Casas is a distinctive fusion of art, minimalist interiors and bespoke design elements.
Living between Rio de Janeiro and Angola, the clients turned to renowned Brazilian architects Studio Arthur Casas to design another home in Brazil’s vibrant São Paulo. The couple—a professional chef and an admirer of continuous, open spaces—provided a comprehensive brief that guided the nuanced design approach. “The clients prioritised everyday functionality, designer-crafted furniture, the prominence of art, minimalist finishes, and technology,” Studio Arthur Casas founding architect Arthur Casas explains.
It was integral for the clients that the home’s lighting, sound and automation were seamlessly integrated, as if ‘invisible’. The acoustics were carefully designed so that the sound would softly resonate through the timber veneer, while ceiling lights were fully hidden, emitting only precise, focused light. “Subtle and predominantly indirect, the use of recessed slots and fixtures reinforces minimalism as the guiding thread of the architectural proposal,” Casas says.
Studio Arthur Casas began the project by preserving the original exposed concrete slab, which became a foundation for the home. Ensuring visual continuity and flow, the designers selected terrazzo flooring as the central, unifying element between living areas; as one moves from the shared into private living spaces, European oak wood flooring is chosen to create a sense of intimacy and warmth.
Drawing inspiration from the Venetian flooring in Italian architect Carlo Scarpa’s iconic Olivetti showroom, the terrazzo—which was custom-designed for this home—features a cementitious base with marble fragments arranged in geometric patterns. The result is a rhythmic yet deliberately imperfect surface that encompasses a commitment to innovation, introducing a distinctive material rarely seen in Brazilian interiors.
The stainless steel kitchen island stands out against the warm timber joinery that conceals appliances.
Fostering a sense of gathering in the heart of the home, leather and metal 4 Mariani Tucroma chairs sit up at a dining area extends from the island bench.
The curation of art and furniture defines the home, especially in the ‘social’ area which comprises the kitchen, dining, living area and connecting home theatre. Recognisable pieces such as the Serpentine sofa designed by Vladmir Kagan, Ghost armchair designed by Cini Boeri for FIAM, Living Divani Extrasoft sofa and sculptural Artek Karuselli chairs, as well as custom-designed furniture by Arthur Casas, are complemented by bold art forms, such as a tactile piece by Frans Krajcberg and sculpture by Túlio Pinto by the entrance. In the kitchen, a vibrant painting by Beatriz Milhazes introduces colour, while Anish Kapoor’s mirrored art blends into the stainless steel surfaces, reinforcing the home’s contemporary design ethos.
The living area features the Holly Hunt Serpentine sofa designed by Vladmir Kagan, the Ghost armchair designed by Cini Boeri for FIAM, Lava stone side tables from Maison Gerard and vintage chairs from Liceu de Artes e Ofícios. The space also features a curated art selection, featuring sculptures by Túlio Pinto in the entrance and Frans Krajcberg on the wall.
The home theatre connects through the Living Divani Extrasoft sofa and Artek Karuselli chairs, featuring a mirrored glass wall that conceals the television systems.
The original layout was transformed to create the home office, which functions as a transitional space between the shared and private living areas.
The Jambu desk designed by Arthur Casas for Herança Cultural, Knoll Pollock chair and Lumina Daphine table lamp complemented by iron corten sculptures by Osmar Dalio and ceramics by Kimi Nii and Akinori Nakatani. A terrazzo feature wall nods to the hand-crafted tiles featured throughout the kitchen, dining and living areas.
The minimalist bathroom features Carrara marble finishes and brushed graphite metal tapware that complements the grey marble veining.
The primary bedroom features the Arflex Delfino armchair, Cassina 194 9 side table designed by Piero Lissoni, DCW Editions Mantis floor lamp and the Tupi nightstand designed by Arthur Casas for Etel.
The guest bedroom is more playful for the couple’s daughter, featuring Terry O’Neill photographs, the Wentz Tubo chair, DCW Editions Mantis sconce and the nendo Perch coat stand.
