Sculptural shelving becomes a library in a duplex with a view of Christ the Redeemer traduzido por: OPENROUTER

There are projects in which architecture ceases to be a mere spatial arrangement and becomes the concrete translation of the pace of life of those who inhabit it. In the 185 m² penthouse located in the charming Horto neighborhood, in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, architect Sebastian Gomez – from the CASACOR Rio de Janeiro lineup – took on the challenge of transforming an originally fragmented structure into a fluid residence, deeply connected to nature and oriented toward thought. Designed for a couple driven by the world of ideas — he, a philosopher and journalist; she, a legal professional —, the house had to accommodate a dynamic, culturally dense, and above all, ever-changing lifestyle.

Projeto de Sebastian Gomez. (Leonardo Costa/CASACOR)

The central point of the intervention on the lower floor was the elimination of rigid barriers to create a large integrated project. Hall, dining room, living room, and office share the same continuous space, stitched together by walls with curved lines that soften circulation and expand the boundaries of visual perception.

Projeto de Sebastian Gomez. (Leonardo Costa/CASACOR)

The absolute protagonist of this core, the monumental double-height metal shelving unit was custom designed to house the family's extensive library. To make the structure feasible without compromising safety, a detailed engineering study ensured the hidden fixation of the steel shelves and the support for the ladders providing access to the upper levels of the collection. Embedded linear lighting finishes the piece.

Projeto de Sebastian Gomez. (Leonardo Costa/CASACOR)

As one moves up the new main staircase — designed to replace the old spiral model —, the architecture guides the visitor's gaze to the highlight of the upper floor: the fully framed view of Christ the Redeemer.

Projeto de Sebastian Gomez. (Leonardo Costa/CASACOR)

The project had to be modified during construction. With the arrival of the couple's son, the floor plan had to be reorganized to accommodate a third bedroom. The children's projects gained lightness with light tones, joinery with soft curves, and welcoming textures of straw and natural wood, finished with a graffiti artwork signed by Smael Vagner, which occupies the main wall.

Projeto de Sebastian Gomez. (Leonardo Costa/CASACOR)

In the master suite, the highlight is the natural freijó wood joinery and the headboard with a handcrafted finish, while the second suite bets on the dialogue between freijó, burnished cement, and sliding doors that blend into the wood panel.

Projeto de Sebastian Gomez. (Leonardo Costa/CASACOR)

On the upper floor, the floor leveling allowed for the creation of a continuous plateau dedicated to well-being, bringing together the gym, gourmet space, and leisure area. The pool was semi-recessed into the wooden deck and clad in Vitória Régia quartzite, creating a chromatic interplay in harmony with the surrounding vegetation.

Projeto de Sebastian Gomez. (Leonardo Costa/CASACOR)

The use of materials in their purest form — such as the washbasin carved from sawn black granite amid the vertical garden — blurs the boundary between interior and exterior. In the outdoor area, the dialogue between natural light, water, and the presence of a work by Adriana Varejão consolidates the space as a refuge for contemplation.

traduzido por: OPENROUTER