studio arthur casas renovates a 1965 abandoned building in são paulo into luxury offices

located in jardins, a high-class neighborhood of são paulo, studio arthur casas’ intervention in jaú building can be classified as a ‘retrofit’, or a requalification of its pre-existing structure. the original design dates back to 1965 — it was abandoned with just the structure and envelopment finished. bauman, a construction company, bought the building and commissioned studio arthur casas to renovate its façade and complete the interior, now adapted for a commercial use.

the original layout of the 17-story building remained almost the same, with only a few changes: arthur casas’ most drastic intervention was the addition of a new underground pavement. moreover, the toilets were brought near to the vertical circulation areas. although those modifications are products of a change in the use of the space, they allow greater flexibility in the floor occupancy by other groups and offices.

the main concern was to get away from the conventional corporate building language, known by its mirrored glass and impersonal environment. balconies were incorporated into the new building proposal, an atypical act that evokes the idea of a house environment. the ground floor has a water mirror that starts at the access and extends itself to the meeting room, at its end, where armchairs and coffee table set the space and make a comfortable living room.

glass panels ensure the abundant entrance of natural light and huge sliding wooden doors give privacy to the room. the façade concept was to give dynamicity to the building and eliminate the abandoned raw concrete aesthetic, present for more than 50 years. horizontal brises in brown color and illuminated niches create a visual set of light and shadow and give movement to the composition. the terrace on the 17th floor uses transparent materials to soft the roof structure, with a glazed balcony rail.

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edited by: maria erman | designboom