In Vergalhão Apartment, we had the experience of adapting a previous project, which had not fully met the owners’ needs. The focus of the renovation was the living room and kitchen space, which also included the integration with the balcony area, which was not often used by the couple.
© Júlia Tótoli
The expansion of the room allowed the positioning of the dining table next to the window, freeing up the space for the living room, which started to function as a space for socializing and leisure for the family, free from the movement of people. There, a large metal bookcase made of smooth rebars organizes and displays decorative objects, books, vinyl records, and plants, in addition, of course, to the daughter’s toys.
© Júlia Tótoli
The materiality of the project was defined based on the existing elements: gray floor, black kitchen, white walls. From this initial base, we searched for elements that could reinforce visual sobriety, such as the walls of concrete blocks and the white countertop, in contrast to the wood of the main panel of the room – a multifunctional element that disguises the entrance to the rooms, stores dishes, tv equipment’s, swing net and other objects.
© Júlia Tótoli
© Júlia Tótoli
Project Info
Architects: CODA Arquitetura
Area: 90 m²
Year: 2021
Country: Brazil
Photographs: Júlia Tótoli
Manufacturers: Antunes Móveis Planejados, Lumini, Portinari, Suvinil, Tok Stok, WS marmoraria
Lead Architects: Pedro Grilo, Isabela Bandeira
Design Team: Julia Coutinho, Rayan Sant’anna
Editorial: Sarah Almeida
Locksmith: Francisco Dias
Sophie Tremblay is a Montreal-based architectural editor and designer with a focus on sustainable urban development. A McGill University architecture graduate, she began her career in adaptive reuse, blending modern design with historical structures. As a Project Editor at Arch2O, she curates stories that connect traditional practice with forward-thinking design. Her writing highlights architecture's role in community engagement and social impact. Sophie has contributed to Canadian Architect and continues to collaborate with local studios on community-driven projects throughout Quebec, maintaining a hands-on approach that informs both her design sensibility and editorial perspective.