Galeria Apartment

Reducing to Expand

When commissioning the renovation project for this apartment located in Asa Norte, Brasília, the clients’ main request was the expansion of the social areas. Previously, the couple lived in a duplex almost twice the size of their current home, but with their children moving out and a growing desire to travel, they chose to significantly downsize. However, this pursuit of practicality should not compromise the spaciousness they were accustomed to, nor their ability to host family and friends.

With this in mind, CODA committed to creating a project whose main guideline was the development of integrated spaces with the best possible use of the available area. The new program eliminated one of the existing bedrooms to enlarge the living room and reconfigured the kitchen to allow its full integration with the social area. In the private zone, the couple’s suite and two guest bedrooms were maintained, both of which also function as home offices on a daily basis. The master bathroom was also expanded to accommodate a bathtub and a larger vanity area.

The new kitchen took advantage of the removal of the original powder room and service room to create a more open and horizontal layout. A large U-shaped countertop accommodates the main appliances, while a side wall of cabinetry houses the refrigerator, oven tower, and pantry. The walls were clad in natural stone. The kitchen ceiling allowed for recessed lighting and concealed the ducted air-conditioning system responsible for cooling the apartment’s entire social area.

To house the couple’s art collection, a large wooden panel was positioned between the living room and the bedrooms, slightly suspended from the floor by a metal structure anchored to the slab. This structure also supports the home theater, visible from the central piece of the room: a double-sided sofa that defines the living area.

The expansion of the social space was reinforced by removing the original plaster ceiling, increasing the ceiling height and revealing the existing concrete structure. To emphasize this element, lighting was designed through reflective trays created by the office and installed randomly, providing pleasant indirect lighting throughout the living room.

Finally, the adopted strategies resulted in a unique and expansive social space — bright, airy, and with privileged views of Parque Olhos D’Água and its surroundings.