Panorama
Art Collector's Apartment in São Paulo
Photography by Fillippo Bamberghi.
Art & Pool
When the owners of this stunning two-floor apartment in Vila Nova Conceição, a prestigious neighborhood in São Paulo, Brazil, enlisted the expertise of Brazilian architect Fernanda Marques of Fernanda Marques Arquitetos Associados to renovate their home, they had two specific requests: ample space to showcase their growing art collection and a swimming pool. Although seemingly contrasting desires, Marques recognized that both represented a fundamental longing to be surrounded by visual stimulation. Thus, the pool was not just designed for swimming but also for aesthetic appreciation. As a result, this extraordinary apartment, aptly named Panorama, features a swimming pool right in the middle of the living room.
Brazilian Minimalism
Separated by 8cm-thick bonded glass panels, the slender 10-meter-long pool stretches along the entire length of the double-height living room. It functions as a unique aquarium, where instead of tropical fish or dolphins, you can observe someone you know twirling, spinning, and gliding underwater. This surreal experience is further enhanced by lush vegetation growing on top of the pool, transforming it into an art installation rather than a conventional swimming pool.
The apartment's modernist interiors boast a minimalist aesthetic with clean marble surfaces, neutral tones, and furniture by mid-century Brazilian designers. This provides an ideal backdrop for the owners' prestigious art collection, thoughtfully displayed throughout the main spaces with ample wall surfaces and a dedicated gallery area that adapts to evolving lighting needs.
Lush
The double-height living room serves as the focal point of the apartment, seamlessly connected on the same level to the open-plan dining room and kitchen. The first floor houses the master and guest bedrooms, a gym, and an office. As the home is occupied by a couple without children, the master bedroom takes center stage. Designed as a domestic "dress circle," it offers sweeping views of the living room, including the pool, and the plant-filled patio beyond. Privacy can be easily regained with the help of folding white panels. The master bedroom also boasts direct access to the pool through an adjoining terrace, allowing the couple to take a plunge whenever they desire. The pool can also be reached from the lower floor via a pristine white switchback staircase that ascends to an elevated deck from the patio.
According to the architect, "building the pool structure was the most challenging aspect of the project," both in terms of design and construction. However, reflecting on the result, she affirms, "I think it was well worth it." And judging by the apartment's breathtaking interiors, it undoubtedly was.
