Welcome to our gallery focusing on the FT House, an apartment renovation by Pascali Semerdjian Architects.

This apartment home was built in São Paulo, Brazil for a young client in her late 20s.

The building is located in one of the top neighborhoods in the city, with an interior that originally dated from the 1950s.

The main design challenge was to renovate the property for use as both a living home and working space. The client wanted to receive friends and clients there, as well as live her day to day life comfortably.

The original walls were peeled away so that the concrete structure itself could be used as a low cost design framework.

In a twist of bright contrast, all fixed furniture was chosen for its 5mm thin delicate metal sheets, standing out against the thick and brutal look of the concrete.

The volumes of shelving and closet structures in the living room reflect the porticos that frame the doorways leading to the bedrooms. It’s one of many intricate design choices that unify and personalize this space.

The shelving houses the indirect lighting that’s projected onto the walls, which allowed the designers to preserve the original structure, leaving it relatively untouched.

The character of this apartment is spiced up with a cohesive mixture of furniture designs, blending European and Brazilian artistry, from Christian Dell to Sergio Rodrigues.

Overall, the stark mixture of cool concrete, warm wood, and striking whites makes for an inviting, innovative home.

Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Beyond the living room sofa, we see a white minimalist writing desk with a full size built-in shelving unit at back. The shelving houses much of the color seen in the room, which takes the form of subtle accents and furniture.

With a closer look at the shelving, we see how the thin materials add contrast to the space, opposing the thick concrete slabs of the walls. The thin, white-topped natural wood writing desk is another great minimalist touch.

The living room is part of a larger open space at the center of the apartment, connecting a dining area and kitchen as well. Here we see the original concrete standing out proudly between swaths of white walls.

The dining area is lit by three differently shaped pendant lights, with a soft glow over the minimally appointed space. To the right, we see large artwork panels depicting sharp edged industrial designs.

The kitchen, next to the entry door, is framed in glossy white subway tile. Natural wood cabinetry offers a warm contrast.

Here’s a closer look at those idiosyncratic lights hanging above the dining table. Subtle touches like this add a sense of arty playfulness to the home.

Pulling back, we can see an overhead concrete beam dividing the dining and kitchen spaces, as well as a peek at a nearly hidden storage door at left.

Looking out from the kitchen, we can take in nearly the entire open plan space. The whole area is accented by subtle but effective use of warm natural wood tones, especially in the floating shelving at left.

The kitchen defines itself as distinct from the rest of the home with bold geometric tile flooring, white subway tile walls, and sleek stainless steel countertops.

Beyond the living room, we see the passage toward the bedrooms. The hardwood flooring continues here, as we see a midcentury modern bedside table in bright natural wood.

The primary bedroom features a lengthy relaxing space beyond the bed, with built-in shelving for clothes and other items. A singular wooden chair with a white fur seat stands in the open space.

Viewed in the other direction, we see the concrete wall poking out in the bedroom, flanked by white walls on one side and a room-wide wooden headboard on the other.

Here’s the primary bath, standing apart within the apartment with its use of bright blue wall tiles. Even here, the concrete structure makes its presence known.