A striking apartment renovation in São Paulo's vibrant Vila Madalena neighborhood has transformed a duplex penthouse into a sophisticated living space designed specifically for a young family passionate about gastronomy and entertaining. The Fidalga Apartment, completed in 2024 by Gurgel D'Alfonso Arquitetura, spans 2,153 square feet and represents a masterful blend of residential comfort and professional culinary functionality.
The project was conceived for content creators who run a popular culinary YouTube channel and needed a versatile space that could accommodate both their professional filming needs and daily family life with two small children. Architects Rogério Gurgel and Caio D'Alfonso completely restructured the apartment's layout, proposing innovative spatial connections and solutions that prioritize both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
The kitchen serves as the heart of the renovation, designed to accommodate daily cooking, entertaining guests, and professional video production. The architects integrated this space into the social area by demolishing existing walls and creating a continuous axis that flows seamlessly from cooking counter to prep area to dining table. This open-concept design maximizes both functionality and visual impact while maintaining distinct zones for different activities.
The material palette showcases an expertly curated selection of steel, stone, and wood that creates expressive yet balanced contrasts throughout the space. The main countertop features self-supporting stainless steel construction composed of independent modules with different functions and accessories, assembled like a flexible system. This professional-grade setup is complemented by a Vitória Régia quartzite surface that provides additional workspace and houses drawers facing the working area.
A custom solid wood table serves dual purposes as both dining surface and pasta preparation area, demonstrating the project's commitment to multifunctional design. The mixing of warm wood surfaces with cool stainless steel meets various culinary demands while drawing inspiration from the functional logic of professional restaurant kitchens. This thoughtful approach balances sensory and technical aspects with equal precision.
At the rear of the kitchen, custom cabinetry finished in golden brass panels houses appliances and storage that remain subtly concealed within the overall design. The reflective brass surface captures and disperses natural light throughout the space, creating dynamic visual effects that change with the sun's movement. The cabinetry follows minimalist design principles with metal groove handles and flat surfaces that reinforce visual organization.
A secondary prep kitchen adjacent to the laundry room features an additional stainless steel counter and dedicated washing area, ensuring that the main kitchen can remain pristine during filming while providing practical backup functionality for daily use. This dual-kitchen concept reflects the family's professional needs while maintaining residential comfort.
Throughout the social areas, terracotta ceramic tile flooring provides visual cohesion and brings warmth to the space. The tactile comfort of these tiles balances the industrial materials used elsewhere, creating a welcoming atmosphere that feels both sophisticated and livable. The consistent flooring choice unifies different functional zones while maintaining distinct character areas.
The lighting design employs exposed ceiling-mounted spotlights that highlight the concrete slab without requiring false ceilings, maintaining the apartment's architectural honesty. Linear pendant lights above the main countertop provide focused task lighting for cooking and filming activities. The abundant natural light streaming through large windows and concrete breeze blocks significantly reduces the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours.
In the living area, a custom-built masonry bookshelf with integrated niches combines fixed architectural elements with freestanding Sucupira wood furniture pieces. The bookshelf's curved outline cleverly follows the path of visible air conditioning ducts, demonstrating how the architects embraced rather than concealed necessary infrastructure elements as part of the overall design aesthetic.
The furniture selection balances meaningful family heirlooms with carefully chosen contemporary design pieces. The family's original dining table was preserved and paired with restored Sergio Rodrigues chairs acquired from Galeria Teo. The living area features an Elle armchair by designer Luisa Attab and a Forma side table by Maximiliano Crovato, both sourced from the Designers Group gallery, adding distinctive character to the space.
The sense of continuity extends seamlessly onto the outdoor balcony, where the same terracotta flooring reinforces the connection between interior and exterior spaces. A wooden bench runs along the railing's edge while integrated planters add greenery and flexible design elements that can be rearranged according to seasonal needs or entertaining requirements.
Upstairs, the bedrooms and home office showcase a softer architectural language that provides contrast to the industrial aesthetic below. The exposed gabled roof structure enhances the ceiling height while reinforcing a sense of shelter and intimacy. The office features a distinctive light blue epoxy floor that directly references the sky visible through the windows, creating a calming work environment.
The primary suite centers around a custom-built central volume made of Virolinha plywood that ingeniously integrates bed, headboards, closet, television lounge, and utility connections into a single architectural element. This modular system was produced off-site and installed before civil work completion, streamlining both construction timing and finish quality while demonstrating efficient construction methodology.
The suite's bathroom creates a sensory retreat with terracotta-toned ceramic tiles enveloping an onyx naranja countertop. A monolithic floor treatment in matching tones covers even the built-in concrete soaking tub, which features smooth, curved edges for maximum comfort. The space is conceived as a contemplative environment where precisely aligned textures and surfaces create an immersive, spa-like experience.
This renovation represents a thoughtful intervention rooted in understanding daily family life while remaining open to material experimentation and architectural research. The design choices reflect a pursuit of textures, finishes, and spatial compositions that convey distinct sensations and elevate the experience of dwelling. The result is a home where living becomes both an intimate family experience and a platform for creative professional work, seamlessly blending cooking, connecting, and sharing memories within a beautifully crafted architectural framework.
