Itambé Apartment: The Renovation That Challenged the Boundaries of the Original Floor Plan

The renovation of the Itambé apartment was driven by the goal of reconfiguring an excessively subdivided original 155 m² floor plan, creating more spacious and integrated areas. To achieve this, it was necessary to break the rigidity of the orthogonal geometry of the original design, establishing new spatial connections. This approach allowed for a more fluid relationship between the living and dining areas while maintaining the kitchen’s privacy, ensuring a balanced spatial redistribution. 

The solution was to explore variations in the dining room’s position to channel natural light and views toward the back of the apartment. Since the rear view was unappealing, special fluted glass was used to capture only the light. In the dining room, sandblasted glass with a custom design was applied to obscure the rear view. The idea was to maximize the front-facing view and light while only allowing softer illumination from the back.

Through various studies, including models, it became clear that breaking the original compartmentalization not only enabled new spatial connections but also transformed the functional dynamics of the apartment.

Although not located at the geometric center of the home, the living room took on the role of an urban plaza—a central gathering point connecting different spaces. This new arrangement redefined interactions between rooms, introducing a previously nonexistent spatial fluidity.

This change in the layout, with the introduction of a diagonal movement, reshaped the spatial dynamics. The dining room and kitchen, once entirely separate, now reveal themselves to one another gradually. The open passage and glass table in the dining area reinforce the lightness of the composition, allowing natural light to spread throughout the space, while the distinctive blue flooring provides a visual transition between the rooms.

Additionally, the kitchen—designed to be enclosed at the residents’ request—prioritizes functionality and everyday practicality. A playful detail in the space is the collection of organizer jars shaped like small houses, which add a warm and whimsical touch, contrasting with the cool texture of the blue tiles and the materiality of the countertop.

The breaking of orthogonality and the new spatial arrangement introduced lightness, practicality, and personality, making this apartment an authentic expression of the intersection between design and the lifestyle of its residents.

São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1994 / 1995
Apartment Renovation
Private Client
155 m²
Completed

Architecture and Furniture Design
Aki Dado Arquitetura

Collaborators
Cynthia Nigro Dado

Construction
Proarea Engenharia

Photography
Alain Brugier