Terrazzo Apartment, dialogues between minimalism, art and material

Terrazzo Apartment, curated by Studio Arthur Casas, answers the needs of a cosmopolitan couple living between Rio de Janeiro and Angola, who sought an urban hideaway in São Paulo that would be functional, artistically engaging, and technologically sophisticated.

The project, guided by the requests of the owners—she, a professional chef, and he, a lover of open spaces—emerges as a manifesto of understated luxury and sensory integration.

Conscious minimalism

The interior design is shaped by rigorous functional minimalism. The kitchen area, dedicated to the owner’s passion, is a fitting example: the stainless-steel island stands out against a wooden boiserie with a clean, essential design that completely conceals the appliances, maintaining a uniform and uncluttered surface.

Technological integration is handled with extreme discretion: lighting, audio systems, and automation are hidden within a slightly lowered wooden-clad ceiling. This solution precisely addresses acoustic requirements, allowing only the thickness of the wood veneer to resonate. The lighting itself is an exercise in invisibility, with fully integrated fixtures revealed only as focused points of light.

The defining feature of the living area is the terrazzo flooring, chosen to guarantee seamless visual continuity with the pre-existing exposed concrete slab. Inspired by the famed Venetian floor of Carlo Scarpa’s Olivetti showroom, Studio Arthur Casas elevates terrazzo to a central, custom element, with a cementitious composition enriched by marble fragments arranged in a rhythmic and intentionally imperfect aesthetic. This choice strikes a subtle balance between craftsmanship and experimentation, highlighting the studio’s commitment to innovative solutions seldom explored in the Brazilian context.

Art as narrative texture

Terrazzo Apartment takes shape as a true inhabited art gallery. Notable works, such as a painting by Beatriz Milhazes and a mirrored piece by Anish Kapoor, define the living room. The conversation area is completed by a selection of signature furnishings and vintage pieces, including sculptures by Túlio Pinto and Krajcberg. Track spots and high-powered floor lamps ensure faithful color rendering, treating the artworks with museum-level respect.

Transition between areas occurs through the study, a flexible filter thanks to sliding doors. Here, terrazzo reappears in a wall niche, establishing a material dialogue with the Cor-Ten sculptures by Osmar Dalio.

From the study, the passage to the bedrooms marks a sensory shift: terrazzo gives way to the warmth of oak flooring. The master suite, defined by earthy tones, is a quiet retreat featuring a wooden sculpture and design pieces by Arthur Casas himself. The layout is designed for maximum privacy, with a double walk-in closet and separate facilities in the bathroom.

Carrara marble covers the bathroom surfaces, harmonized with brushed graphite metal fixtures, creating a cohesive and elegant palette.

With Terrazzo Apartment, Studio Arthur Casas has succeeded in combining the functionality demanded by the daily life of two exacting professionals with a contemporary and refined aesthetic.

>>> Discover Elysium Fields, a true contemporary art gallery designed by CLB and interior designer WRJ Design