Apartamento Paulista by Studio Gaibola

_project: Apartamento Paulista
_architecture: Studio Gaibola
_location: São Paulo, Brazil

The relationship between art and domestic space has evolved into a more intimate and immersive condition, where collecting becomes part of everyday life. Instead of isolating artworks within neutral gallery settings, contemporary homes increasingly act as living environments for art, allowing pieces to be experienced through daily routines. In this context, architecture becomes a mediator, shaping how art is perceived while constructing a narrative that reflects personal identity and cultural engagement.

Located along São Paulo’s iconic Avenida Paulista, this apartment embodies this approach. Designed by Studio Gaibola, the project was conceived as a hybrid space where living and collecting coexist. The transformation responds to the owner’s growing collection, built over more than fifteen years, which includes large scale paintings that required new spatial conditions.

“I like to live with the artworks,” he explains. “My collection has been growing for 15 to 20 years, and I started acquiring large scale paintings that required space and height. Some pieces were in storage, and that never felt right to me.” A pivotal moment came with the acquisition of a monumental painting by Marina Rheingantz, measuring three by three meters, which ultimately catalyzed the search for a new spatial setting.

The apartment’s generous ceiling height and its rare garden, offering views toward a sculpture by Richard Serra at the neighboring Instituto Moreira Salles, provided the ideal conditions. Yet, the architectural challenge lay in balancing openness with the need for display surfaces. In response, the design introduces a series of elliptical walls that expand the available exhibition area while maintaining spatial fluidity. These curved elements create multiple perspectives, allowing artworks to be experienced dynamically rather than frontally, reinforcing a sense of movement throughout the apartment.

The collection itself spans key figures of Brazilian art, from Roberto Burle Marx to Luiz Zerbini, alongside works by Alfredo Volpi, Ana Maria Maiolino, and members of the influential Casa 7 group. Sculptural pieces by Tunga and Ivens Machado further enrich the spatial composition.

Complementing the artworks, the interior incorporates iconic Brazilian modernist furniture, including a rare circular sofa by Sérgio Rodrigues, originally designed for a museum setting. Natural stone surfaces and carefully curated materials reinforce the tactile and visual dialogue between architecture, design, and art.

The apartment operates as a platform for cultural exchange, hosting gatherings and events. It is a space where architecture supports the presence of art, allowing it to be fully integrated into everyday life.

_article written by Daniela Moreira da Silva
_film by Architecture Hunter
_cover and image scroll by Andre Klotz