Brazilian apartments: interior designs combining concrete and wood

Today, we are increasingly aware of the environmental damage caused by concrete construction. One approach to using it more sustainably is to reuse existing buildings, exposing their structural elements and incorporating concrete into the surface. While concrete can sometimes give a harsh or cold ambiance to a residential space, wood offers an alternative to soften this impression, transforming what may appear industrial into a warm and inviting home environment. In doing so, it can convey distinct qualities to the same space through the interplay between its textures and colours, evoking different sensations in the occupants. There are different ways to explore the interaction between these materials, and we illustrate some of these possibilities through six examples of Brazilian apartments.

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Memola Estúdio + Vitor Penha executed Apartamento Saint Honoré to create a timeless ambiance inspired by industrial lofts, which was achieved by removing all plaster, stripping away the masonry and exposing the concrete surfaces. These exposed concrete elements now interact with movable wooden frames that facilitate complete integration, partial integration or isolation of the different living spaces. “The frames add structure and cohesion to the random look of exposed brick and concrete, which dominate the space. They are visually differentiated at the top by the exposed concrete beams and at the bottom by strips of wood flooring which contrast in color compared to the main apartment’s beautifully patterned flooring,” the architects explain.

During the demolition phase of the Aurora apartment, CoDA Arquitetura revealed the basic structure of the building, which consists of three parallel reinforced concrete walls. To reconfigure the design, they applied a freijó panel with two sliding doors integrated under one of the beams. This panel acts as a central path, allowing movement primarily through this wooden feature that traverses the concrete structure of the apartment. Furthermore, wood is a prominent element in apartment design, especially in custom-made furniture. It is notably present on the kitchen island, designed with curved ends and a recessed concrete base to create the illusion that it is floating, adding a sense of lightness to this large piece. Thus, there is a careful balance between exposed concrete structural elements and warmer, less intense wood tones throughout the apartment.

In the Carbon apartment, the design team clearly achieves a harmonious balance. The upper level features solid concrete slabs and beams, while the lower level features hardwood floors. Using white walls amplifies the contrast between these surfaces, allowing the textures of each material to become more pronounced and visually striking.

In Apartamento Virgílio, the design team renovated the existing ipê floor in the living room and the peroba floor in the bedrooms. They also completely removed the slab and beams of the apartment, exposing the concrete structure. Amid this interaction between different materials, Cumaru joinery plays a central and pivotal role in the overall design, separating the different living spaces and accommodating a spacious, practical bookshelf.

Apartamento Akyma, designed by Estúdio BRA Arquitetura, features an open plan with distinctive circular concrete columns running through it. To structure the apartment’s design, they created a rectangular space that serves not only as a dining area but also as an entry point to the apartment. This area also gives access to the private sections through sturdy tower panel-like doors leading to other rooms. In addition, a low piece of furniture made of wood runs the length of the main room, keeping in line with the longitudinal direction of the floor plan. This multi-functional piece of furniture includes various elements: it acts as a built-in sofa, supports audio-visual equipment, holds a TV, and even accommodates a planter for indoor landscaping.

In the White House apartment project designed by Flavia Torres Arquitetura, the architects faced an interesting challenge during the structural evaluation. They came across a series of linear concrete columns that stood in the way of their desired expansion plans. Instead of removing these pillars, they chose to embrace and improve them. They creatively combined the two spaces separated by columns, creating a unified social area. The apartment’s original flooring features two distinct types of wood, adding character to the space. This choice played a vital role in bridging the gap between the two sides of the structure. They extended these hardwood floors into the expanded living room area to maintain a sense of continuity and unity throughout the space.