Zalc Arquitetura has completed a striking renovation of a 1,076-square-foot apartment in the Perdizes neighborhood of São Paulo, Brazil, creating a dynamic fusion of industrial aesthetics and vibrant contemporary design. The FM Apartment showcases how bold color choices and thoughtful spatial planning can transform a compact urban dwelling into a sophisticated living environment that reflects its residents' creative lifestyle.
The renovation prioritized creating seamless flow between the apartment's social spaces, with architects integrating the outdoor terrace directly with the kitchen and living room areas. This strategic connection expanded the sense of space while maximizing natural light throughout the main living areas. In the private quarters, the primary suite underwent significant reconfiguration to include a fully connected bathroom that delivers a hotel-like experience for the residents.
Color serves as the defining element throughout the apartment's design narrative. The entryway and bathrooms feature handcrafted hydraulic tiles in a commanding cobalt blue that immediately establishes the home's bold character. This dramatic blue continues in more subdued tones throughout the kitchen cabinetry and extends into the primary bedroom through carefully selected accent pieces and details.
Balancing the vibrant blues, black surfaces appear strategically throughout the space, including custom millwork panels and tile installations that provide depth and reinforce the industrial aesthetic. These darker elements are thoughtfully offset by lighter neutral materials such as polished concrete floors, crisp white ceilings, and warm wood accents, ensuring the overall design feels both bold and livable.
The living room centers around a custom-designed modular island sofa that can be reconfigured for various social situations or everyday relaxation. Tropical plants integrated into suspended shelving systems add natural softness to the industrial materials, creating visual balance between the concrete and metal elements and organic textures. The kitchen island incorporates a dedicated area for the family's pet, complete with filtered water access, demonstrating how functional needs can be seamlessly integrated into sophisticated design.
Each room throughout the apartment maintains its own distinct identity while contributing to the cohesive design story. The primary bathroom features an unconventional suspended urinal mounted on a metal pillar, with strategically placed green plants blocking the silhouette from the bedroom view through black-framed glass panels. This thoughtful detail maintains the open bathroom concept while preserving visual sophistication.
The guest bedroom doubles as a flexible home office space, where a more neutral color palette creates a calming work environment. Sage green cabinetry flanks both walls, with one side concealing a murphy bed for overnight guests and the opposite side providing integrated storage solutions. A continuous wooden desk surface spans both walls, maximizing the room's functional capacity while maintaining clean, modern aesthetics.
The powder room presents perhaps the most dramatic design statement in the apartment, wrapped entirely in black tiles punctuated by white dots of varying sizes. This bold pattern treatment continues across every surface - floor, walls, and ceiling - creating an immersive, playful environment that transforms a compact utilitarian space into an unforgettable design feature.
The project demonstrates Zalc Arquitetura's ability to balance practical functionality with creative expression, showing how thoughtful color application and spatial planning can dramatically transform urban living spaces. The FM Apartment stands as an example of contemporary Brazilian design that honors industrial materials while embracing bold, personality-driven aesthetics.
