Margem Arquitetos transforms a previously compartmentalized penthouse in São Paulo’s Aclimação neighborhood into a unified, open environment where opposite sides of the home communicate seamlessly. Defined by fluid boundaries and multi-functional furniture, the space balances division and flow while enhancing natural light throughout. Organized around a central blue element, the project proposes an architectural framework that supports adaptability of uses and fosters coexistence of moments.
An apartment, a photography studio, and a space for hosting — this was the brief presented by the owner and her dog for the transformation of a penthouse apartment in the Aclimação neighborhood of São Paulo.
Previously organized into a terrace, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a laundry area, a kitchen, and a compartmentalized living room, the apartment has been radically reconfigured. All internal partitions were removed, giving rise to a continuous spatial field that allows the opposite sides of the residence to communicate.
The project redefines domestic organization through a single, open environment that accommodates multiple uses via subtle, non-hierarchical boundaries — articulated through freestanding furniture, multifunctional millwork, and permeable metal elements.
Within this framework, the living room cabinetry operates simultaneously as a wardrobe and workspace, while also serving as a flexible threshold for the photography studio. The bedroom opens generously toward the shared living space, which in turn extends outward to the terrace — effectively dissolving the distinction between interior and exterior. Even the doors, including those of the bathrooms, are designed as translucent yet opaque surfaces, enabling natural light to permeate the apartment from all directions.
The original two bathrooms were consolidated into a single volume aligned with the axis of the entrance wall, liberating the remaining area to contribute to the unified spatial composition. A second bathroom was introduced in the former service entrance, maintaining this same alignment.
Light, evenly distributed throughout, reinforces this sense of continuity. Upon entry, the apartment is revealed in its entirety, while still suggesting layers of spatial discovery.
At the perimeter, the kitchen and laundry are integrated into a large, continuous storage unit that concentrates infrastructure along a single wall. This linear system engages directly with the living space, functioning as an uninterrupted panel.
Material and structural elements further support the project’s pursuit of unity.
Exposed concrete beams and columns — integrated with lighting, countertops, millwork, and metalwork — combine with a continuous flooring surface to establish a restrained and cohesive atmosphere.
Within this calm and precise framework, a central blue furniture piece in the living area emerges as a focal point, visible from multiple vantage points. The renovation proposes a spatial reorganization as a way of living defined by adaptability and attentiveness to everyday use.
Through its careful calibration of light, materiality, and spatial flow, the project articulates a setting where daily life, work, and gathering coexist seamlessly.
Facts & Credits
Title Aclimação Apartment
Typology Interior, Apartment
Location São Paulo, Brazil
Status Completed, 2022
Area 150 m²
Architecture Margem Arquitetos
Lighting Design Reka Iluminação
Photography Leila Viegas
Text by the authors