Lausanne Apartment

Superlimão designed the architectural project for the Lausanne Apartment, which takes its name from the historic building in which it is located: the Lausanne Building, designed by Franz Heep in the Higienópolis neighborhood. The renovation was done for a couple and their two children, a family that already lived in the area and had always admired the building. Respecting the existing architecture, the Superlimão project eliminated much of the original compartmentalization of the rooms, making room for the passage of natural light from both sides of the building. Even though it is on the second floor, both the social and private areas of the apartment gained in brightness. This factor allowed the lighting project to ‘disappear’ into the rooms, with subtle linear profiles installed on the wall for indirect lighting. The highlight is the pendant light above the dining table. With space for eight people, the table forms a single structure, which, when it reaches the kitchen, transforms into a counter and sink. Original elements of the building were incorporated, such as the pillars stripped down to the concrete and the pre-existing floor, which was restored. Another reference to the architecture of the Lausanne Building is the internal partitions: openwork metal panels repeat the design of the façade, allowing a clear view between the large dining room and the hallway that leads to the bedrooms. The private area consists of a suite for the couple and a bedroom for the two brothers. For the latter, Superlimão designed a metal structure that houses two beds and also creates space for games on the second floor. The third bedroom of the original plan was transformed into an office, allowing for integration through the living room or balcony. The color palette is dominated by light tones for the walls. More intense colors appear in specific points, such as the hydraulic tiles on the balcony, the office door, the metal shelving in the kitchen, the bathroom that serves the children and the flower tiles in the lavatory, which were recovered from the old kitchen and adapted to a new interpretation.