Itu Apartment

Solutions using reclaimed materials and industrial pieces are present in the 156m² apartment of architect Lula Gouveia, a partner at Superlimão, and photographer Maíra Acayaba in São Paulo. The 1960s-era property had its spaces integrated after the demolition of some walls. The choice of more sober materials and colors was intentional to highlight paintings, photos, and design objects. In the entrance hall, on the ceiling, hangs the first prototype of the Biro-Biro lamp, made of steel shavings and designed by Superlimão. A graffiti panel salvaged from a construction site in Santa Cecília was installed on the wall. The floor has an epoxy finish, and the ceiling was lowered with a honeycomb polycarbonate lining and LED lighting to create a bright plane. In the living room, reclaimed wood benches surround the space, which is divided by a movable sofa, allowing the room's dimensions to be adjusted according to use. A hanging garden, composed of tropical plants, breaks up the aridity of the space and also helps create a microclimate by humidifying and filtering the air. Beneath it, Lula designed two lounge chairs made entirely from bent sheet metal. The kitchen is open to the living room, creating a unique space. A tile mural by Lurca, along with original cobogós from the building's facade, opened during the renovation, are the only walls in the space. All the kitchen furniture is composed of modular pieces repurposed from offices, scavenged from scrap yards. The exposed fixtures are stainless steel. To separate the living area from the private area, a sliding door made of marine plywood with a wax finish was installed. Upon entering the private area, one of the three bedrooms houses the photographer's office, who works from home much of the time. Open to the hallway, the space is located between the master suite and their daughter, Lina, and its space is delimited by a bookcase with wooden and plywood ladders. In the child's room, a painting with geometric designs forms a stylized forest on the walls, and the lower part has chalkboard paint for drawing. In the master bedroom, the bed has a reclaimed wood frame, similar to the headboard created by designer and friend Diana Albuquerque. In the bathroom, the shower stool doubles as a shelf under the sink, and the floor and countertop are also epoxy. The decor features a mix of classic and contemporary furniture designs.