Sara Apartment | BLOCO Arquitetos

Brasília, 2025 - The renovation of this 68 m² apartment, designed by BLOCO Arquitetos, the firm of partners Henrique Coutinho, Matheus Seco and Daniel Mangabeira, from Brazil, reconfigured a large part of the floor plan to meet the new needs of the resident.

Originally very compartmentalized, the floor plan, characteristic of two-bedroom properties in Asa Norte – a neighborhood in the city of Brasília -, limited the spaciousness of the social areas. To resolve this issue, the architects demolished a large part of the walls, exposing the original structure of beams, concrete pillars and pipes, enhancing the existing architecture.

The kitchen has had its position changed, being integrated into the living room and one of the windows, where a small vegetable garden has been installed. This new configuration made it possible to transform the old service bathroom into a toilet, while the balcony and one of the two bedrooms were incorporated into the living room, maximizing the social area and increasing the natural light. Only the master suite was kept in its original size.

The color palette is based on white to highlight the exposed concrete structure. Mustard yellow stands out in details, such as the lower doors of the kitchen cupboard and the interior of the living room cupboard. 

The materiality of the project emphasizes wood, which is present in the floor - made from recycled tacos from a demolition - in the furniture and in the cabinetry in the living room. White 15x15 cm tiles, characteristic of early Brasilia, were used in the kitchen, bathrooms and sideboard in the living room. In this space, the cladding also functions as a bench or table, connecting areas separated by the original concrete structure.

“The decision to open up one of the bedrooms to the living room integrates all my needs: working from home, watching TV in my armchair and receiving friends, who now sit on the sofa and on the beautiful bench that connects the rooms,” says the resident.

The client's collection of works of art served as a reference for the interior design. One of the highlights is the Mole armchair, by Sérgio Rodrigues, part of the resident's collection, which now occupies a prominent space. The C10 sofa, by Marcus Ferreira for Carbono, was also reincorporated into the environment. 

The result reflects the collaboration between the team of architects and the client, who, being long-time friends, understood exactly how to translate her desires and needs into a space that expresses her personality and routine.

Technical data

Architecture: BLOCO Arquitetos - Daniel Mangabeira, Henrique Coutinho and Matheus Seco

Internal team: Júlia Moraes

Construction: Thiago Meireles

Location: Brasília – DF (Brazil)

Area: 68 m²

Project: 2021

Construction Year: 2022 - 2023

Photos: Júlia Tótoli