Arthur Casas designs Rio apartment overlooking Ipanema beach

Apartment in Rio de Janeiro designed by architect Arthur Casas

Modernist furniture and natural materials contribute to the calm atmosphere of this apartment in Rio de Janeiro, designed by architect Arthur Casas.

(Image credit: Filippo Bamberghi)

By Harriet Thorpe

last updated 10 October 2022

in News

In Rio de Janeiro, one apartment appears to float in the sky. Brazilian architect Arthur Casas has redesigned the space to elevate it from holiday stopover, to a minimalist oasis for entertaining. Anchored with the warmth and clarity of natural material surfaces and modernist furniture, the whole plan has been adapted to connect inhabitant to 360 degree views of Ipanema beach.

Owned by a family who spend seasons in Rio, and like to entertain friends, the apartment is peaceful, spacious and comfortable. It’s a real home, away from the rhythms and responsibilities of home itself.

Living space overlooking the sea — The Flag Halyard Chair, by Hans J Wegner, for Casual Interiores; Brasiliana armchair, by Jorge Zalszupin, for Arquivo Contemporâneo; Delfino armchair, for Casual Interiores; Groundpiece sofa, by Flexform; wood center table, by Tora Brasil; floor lamp IC Lights F2, for Casual Interiores; Cigg table, by Jader Almeida, for Belcolore; ceramic tablelamp, by Casas Edições, Ribbon sofá, by Paola Lenti, for Casual Exteriores

Chair by the sea view — Cará armchair, by Hugo França

White Carrara marble is used in the en suite bathrooms alongside oak flooring

White Carrara marble wall panels offset the views of the beach

A sink has been carved out of Travertino Navona — In the main bathroom for guests, a sink has been carved out of Travertino Navona

Living room and balcony — Groundpiece sofa, Flexform, Pétalas table, Herança Cultural; Paulistana armchair by
Jorge Zalszupin, Arquivo Contemporâneo; Belly tablelamp by Arthur Casas, Studio
Objeto; Mex center table by Piero Lissoni, Cassina; stone side table, Casas Edições;
Warchawchik side table, Arquivo Contemporâneo; Cará armchair by Hugo França

Living and dining space — Amorfa table by Arthur Casas, Way Design; Quem Será chairs by Arthur Casas,
Herança Cutural; Big Mobile 3 arms luminaire by Andrew Neyer; sideboard by Arthur
Casas; Presidencial armchair by Jorge Zalszupin, Arquivo Contemporâneo; Aloe rug,
Phenicia

Bedroom of Arthur Casas minimalist house in Ipanema Beach — Benjamin armchair, by Sergio Rodrigues, for Way Designs; Bauhaus luminaire; 1949 side table by Cassina, for Casual Interiores; FK leather high back bucket seat, by Jorgen Kastholm & Preben Fabricius, for Casual Interiores; Eddy table lamp, by Lumini; Copacabana sideboard, by Arthur Casas, for Herança Cutural.; Chenille 786 rug, by Nani Chinellato

The Belly lampshade and Willys sideboard have been designed by Casas

Travertino Navona marble interiors — The Travertino Navona marble creates a continuous aesthetic with space for display

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Arthur Casas website

Harriet Thorpe is a writer, journalist and editor covering architecture, design and culture, with particular interest in sustainability, 20th-century architecture and community. After studying History of Art at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and Journalism at City University in London, she developed her interest in architecture working at Wallpaper* magazine and today contributes to Wallpaper*, The World of Interiors and Icon magazine, amongst other titles. She is author of The Sustainable City (2022, Hoxton Mini Press), a book about sustainable architecture in London, and the Modern Cambridge Map (2023, Blue Crow Media), a map of 20th-century architecture in Cambridge, the city where she grew up.