A Mesmerizing Pool Dominates This Brazilian Home
A pool with panoramic glass walls becomes an alluring work of art in this Brazilian apartment.
When a couple approached São Paulo–based Fernanda Marques Arquitetos Associados to redesign their duplex apartment, they were seeking a design versatile and minimalist enough to accommodate their ever-growing art collection and have it harmoniously blend into the interior concept.
With expansive glass walls, the surrounding outdoor setting appears a stunning work of art.
Courtesy of Fillippo Bamberghi
"The owner works in the financial market and is a keen art collector," explains Fernanda Marques, the founder of the firm. "He owns works by artists I greatly admire, such as Ernesto Neto, Edgard de Souza, Manoel Rio Branco, Zerbini, and Tunga. These works speak directly to the issue of space, hence the importance of their placement in the project."
A peek at the gallery space in the duplex.
Courtesy of Fillippo Bamberghi
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One of the most striking features in the 5,135-square-feet home is the glass-walled swimming pool. Sited in the exterior garden, it goes across the front and center of the living room to create an aquarium-like wall.
The narrow, elongated pool with a vertical green wall can be seen from inside the apartment.
Courtesy of Fillippo Bamberghi
The interior section above the pool is fitted with two expansive glass walls that frame the surrounding greenery.
The furniture has been selected to complement the artwork around the duplex.
Courtesy of Fillippo Bamberghi
For Marques, building the pool structure was the most challenging part of the renovation project. To achieve the result she desired, she used a very thick, imported glass, which required the help of specialists to install.
Stairs lead up from the garden to the pool and deck.
Courtesy of Fillippo Bamberghi
A look at one of the painting that hangs on the glass wall.
Courtesy of Fillippo Bamberghi
"Looking back, I think it was well worth it. Neither the owners nor I can imagine the apartment without the pool. To a certain extent, I think the pool provided the home with another work of art," she says.
The color and sculptural form of the dining table also complements the art on the walls.
Courtesy of Fillippo Bamberghi
Marques has also designed the lighting in order to enhance the artworks within the apartment. In a gallery space on the lower level, she has placed a single track-lighting rail above the paintings and sculptures to ensure they are lit in just the right way.
The living room, dining area, and kitchen are located on the lower level.
Courtesy of Fillippo Bamberghi
A look at the gallery space that features well-considered lighting.
Courtesy of Fillippo Bamberghi
"I didn’t want the furniture to overwhelm the works of art, but rather to serve as support and counterpoint to them," she explains.
The fitness room and the master bedroom lead out to a veranda, which the owners can use to access the pool.
Courtesy of Fillippo Bamberghi
A view from the bedroom.
Courtesy of Fillippo Bamberghi
A closer look at one of the bedrooms.
Courtesy of Fillippo Bamberghi
On the upper level is the master and guest bedrooms, an office, and fitness room.
On the upper level is the master and guest bedrooms, an office and fitness room.
There is also a bathroom with a freestanding tub on the upper level.
On the upper level is the master and guest bedrooms, an office and fitness room.
Lower level floor plan.
Courtesy of Fernanda Marques Arquitetos Associados
Upper level floor plan.
Courtesy of Fernanda Marques Arquitetos Associados
Project Credits:
Architecture and interiors: Fernanda Marques Arquitetos Associados
Structural engineering: Virgilio Ramos
Civil engineering: Tech Corp
Lighting design: Foco LD
Landscape design: Quadro Vivo
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