Chiara Ferrari's transformation of a former photographic studio into a contemporary residential space
(Image credit: John Ross)
By Rosa Bertoli
last updated

Apartment 1: Clink Wharf
Chiara Ferrari's transformation of a former photographic studio into a contemporary residential space

Designed by key representative of Brazilian modernism architect Vilanova Artigas with Carlos Cascaldi and built in 1946, the Louveira building in Sao Paulo's Higienopolis district is one of the city's residential icons.

Located in the heart of Higienopolis on Vilaboim Square, the building was designed by Artigas in a way that cleverly unites private and public space. 'It effortlessly brings the town square into the complex. The building is separated into two blocks, in the middle of which there is this amazing square with a ramp that leads to the ground floor,' explains architect Marina Acayaba of AR.q architects.

Due to the building's high profile design credentials, young architecture practice AR.q were thrilled to be invited to redesign the interior of one of the apartments. The flat belongs to a couple of art professionals and their young family and is located on the building's first floor, overlooking the entrance.

Rethinking the interior the architects opened up one of the bedrooms and altogether removed one of the bathrooms to make way for a more comfortable living room. They in turn transformed the service room into a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom. The added element that brings the design together is a white floor-to-ceiling bookshelf complex that characteristically runs through the whole flat, making its appearance in different parts of the house. The bookshelves also assume different functions depending on the location; in the kitchen they act as cabinets, in the living room they form a bar and in the bathroom a built-in sink.

The flat includes two bedrooms, a separate glass-enclosed study room, and an open plan living and dining area. A Thomas Demand wallpaper features at the entrance hall, the window frames were restored to their original yellow colour, while the existing wood parquet flooring distinguishes the flat's main rooms, from the concrete-floor wet areas.

Redesigned to fit the needs of 21st century living, but retaining its unique modernist character, the flat also houses the owners' collection of Brazilian art, as well as furniture picked out by them in consultation with the architects.

Apartment 1: Clink Wharf, London

The flat, a comfortable three-bedroom conversion, was designed around a central circulation axis -- the main corridor that leads the guest to the ample open-plan living and dining area overlooking the river

The flat, a comfortable three-bedroom conversion, was designed around a central circulation axis -- the main corridor that leads the guest to the ample open-plan living and dining area overlooking the river

(Image credit: John Ross)

The river is instantly visible through the corridor, living space and a large central opening towards the balcony

The river is instantly visible through the corridor, living space and a large central opening towards the balcony. ’It reinforces and balances the geometry of the interior,’ says Ferrari

(Image credit: John Ross)

A solid walnut wood dinning table, a series of glossy lacquered wood cabinets

A solid walnut wood dinning table, a series of glossy lacquered wood cabinets...

(Image credit: John Ross)

A kitchen island and a curved Corian splashback surface

...a kitchen island and a curved Corian splashback surface, were all specially designed to accompany the wharf flat’s complete redesign

(Image credit: John Ross)

Linked to the central corridor on both sides, are the flat’s more private areas; two bedrooms

Linked to the central corridor on both sides, are the flat’s more private areas; two bedrooms..

(Image credit: John Ross)

with en-suite bathrooms

..with en-suite bathrooms..

(Image credit: John Ross)

A main bathroom

...a main bathroom..

(Image credit: John Ross)

Guest room that doubles as a study area

...and a guest room that doubles as a study area

(Image credit: John Ross)

Apartment 2: Louveira building, Sao Paulo

Designed by key representative of Brazilian modernism architect Vilanova Artigas with Carlos Cascaldi and built in 1946

Designed by key representative of Brazilian modernism architect Vilanova Artigas with Carlos Cascaldi and built in 1946, the Louveira building in Sao Paulo's Higienopolis district is one of the city's residential icons

(Image credit: John Ross)

Living room with sofa and coffee table

Due to the building’s high profile design credentials, young architecture practice AR.q were thrilled to be invited to redesign the interior of one of the apartments

(Image credit: John Ross)

Living room with sofa coffee table and bookshelf

The flat belongs to a couple of art professionals and their young family and is located on the building’s first floor, overlooking the entrance

(Image credit: John Ross)

living room with sofa chair and coffee table

Rethinking the interior the architects opened up one of the bedrooms and altogether removed one of the bathrooms to make way for a more comfortable living room

(Image credit: John Ross)

The added element that brings the design together is a white floor-to-ceiling bookshelf complex that characteristically runs through the whole flat, making its appearance in different parts of the house

The added element that brings the design together is a white floor-to-ceiling bookshelf complex that characteristically runs through the whole flat, making its appearance in different parts of the house

(Image credit: John Ross)

The bookshelves also assume different functions depending on the location; in the kitchen they act as cabinets

The bookshelves also assume different functions depending on the location; in the kitchen they act as cabinets...

(Image credit: John Ross)

In the living room they form a bar

...in the living room they form a bar

(Image credit: John Ross)

The flat also includes a separate glass-enclosed study room

The flat also includes a separate glass-enclosed study room

(Image credit: John Ross)

The window frames were restored to their original yellow colour

The window frames were restored to their original yellow colour

(Image credit: John Ross)

The entrance hall features a limited edition wallpaper by artist Thomas Demand produced for an exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery, London

The entrance hall features a limited edition wallpaper by artist Thomas Demand produced for an exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery, London

(Image credit: John Ross)

The existing wood parquet flooring distinguishes the flat’s main rooms, from the concrete-floor wet areas

The existing wood parquet flooring distinguishes the flat’s main rooms, from the concrete-floor wet areas

(Image credit: John Ross)

Living room with sofa and coffee table

(Image credit: John Ross)

Apartment 3: Tex Tonic House, London

Tucked behind the mansion blocks and office slabs of Westminster, this new apartment occupies the eaves of a former Post Office depot, pushed up into the roof vaults and wrapped on one side by a narrow terrace and vertical garden

(Image credit: John Ross)

Paul McAneary, who once worked in John Pawson’s office, has tackled the client’s demands with gusto

Paul McAneary, who once worked in John Pawson’s office, has tackled the client’s demands with gusto

(Image credit: John Ross)

This is a generous space; there are few central London apartments that span the width of a city block, with a clear view from street to street from the living area to the south through to the kitchen in the north

This is a generous space; there are few central London apartments that span the width of a city block, with a clear view from street to street from the living area to the south through to the kitchen in the north

(Image credit: John Ross)

The most apparent and elaborate feature is the transparent wine cellar, suspended from the ceiling vault in a corridor of glass

The most apparent and elaborate feature is the transparent wine cellar, suspended from the ceiling vault in a corridor of glass. The client - a serious oenophile - is a major collector, but figured that rather than tuck away his future vintages in a below stairs cellar he’d prefer to keep things on display.

(Image credit: John Ross)

The result is a technical tour-de-force, a climate-controlled attic space that keeps over 3,000 bottles suspended on their sides - so the labels can be seen - on a series of finely tuned metal wires

The result is a technical tour-de-force, a climate-controlled attic space that keeps over 3,000 bottles suspended on their sides - so the labels can be seen - on a series of finely tuned metal wires. Concealed uplighting makes the bottles glow, turning the entire cellar into an installation

(Image credit: John Ross)

McAneary and his team have used the expansive floor area to play with scale and materials

McAneary and his team have used the expansive floor area to play with scale and materials

(Image credit: John Ross)

The entrance door - a vast slab of 200-year old Rhodesian Teak – stands nearly 4 metres high

The entrance door - a vast slab of 200-year old Rhodesian Teak – stands nearly 4 metres high

(Image credit: John Ross)

Wood-clad 'boxes' made from a combination of rough-cut oak, burnt, blackened timber and a cast-bronze cladding, conceal the bedroom suites

Wood-clad 'boxes' made from a combination of rough-cut oak, burnt, blackened timber and a cast-bronze cladding, conceal the bedroom suites

(Image credit: John Ross)

The 'boxes' are loosely inspired by the postal depot that once sat below

The 'boxes' are loosely inspired by the postal depot that once sat below

(Image credit: John Ross)

The bathrooms contain sky-lit showers and dramatic hand-cut lava stone walls

The bathrooms contain sky-lit showers and dramatic hand-cut lava stone walls

(Image credit: John Ross)

Technology in the apartment is pushed to the fore, such as the high-end enomatic wine dispenser in the kitchen

Technology in the apartment is pushed to the fore, such as the high-end enomatic wine dispenser in the kitchen

(Image credit: John Ross)

A delicate staircase leads up to the mezzanine level

A delicate staircase leads up to the mezzanine level

(Image credit: John Ross)

The slender mezzanine houses the wine cellar, a study and a discrete seating area, running around the L-shaped space at the highest point of the vaulted ceiling

The slender mezzanine houses the wine cellar, a study and a discrete seating area, running around the L-shaped space at the highest point of the vaulted ceiling

(Image credit: John Ross)

ADDRESS

Av. Paulista 2644 cj 125
Consolação . São Paulo

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS

Rosa Bertoli

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.

Latest