Carbon Apartment, designed by the Brazilian architecture firm, CoDA arquitetos, is a stunning example of innovation and sustainability in modern housing design. The building has garnered critical acclaim for its unique, minimalist structure, which incorporates socially responsible elements like energy efficiency and natural ventilation. In this article, we will take a closer look at CoDA arquitetos’ Carbon Apartment, exploring its design features and the inspiration behind the firm’s approach to sustainable architecture.
The Carbon Apartment, located in Asa Norte, Brasília, was designed by CoDA arquitetos for a couple seeking a renovation project. The couple was originally living in Jakarta, Indonesia, which presented a unique challenge for the architecture firm to adapt the process to the needs of a remote client. However, this particularity of the owners led the project to have a cosmopolitan and international atmosphere, reflecting all the cities in which they have lived in recent years abroad.
The main demand of the clients was to annex the social areas of the apartment with the kitchen to provide ample space for social events. To fulfill this purpose, a concrete bench was created from one end of the room to the other, which increased the number of seats by the window and allowed a wider and more flexible layout in the central part of the room, depending on the needs.
The kitchen was also extended by removing the service room and naturally illuminated by the wired glass frame that separates it from the laundry, allowing light to enter the social area even with the door and windows closed. The project also focused on the redistribution of wet areas to create a toilet, in addition to the existing bathrooms.
In contrast to the neutral colors used throughout the apartment, the textures of the materials were highlighted to bring sophistication to the details delicately. In the kitchen, the Hitam volcanic stone, originally from Indonesia, together with the São Gabriel granite countertops, graphite joinery, and dark gray floor, form the three dark planes of the environment, contrasting with the plaster ceiling.
In opposition to the kitchen, the living room reverses the logic of colors and reveals the massive slab of concrete and beams in the upper plane of the environment. White walls and original parquet flooring complement the room’s neutral aesthetic, while still highlighting the authentic textures of materials.
The project sought to face architecture as a background, with neutral colors, to highlight all the furniture and objects the couple acquired on their travels, transmitting their personality throughout the apartment. The apartment sought to reflect the cosmopolitan and international atmosphere that the couple has encountered throughout their travels and is a beautiful example of how architecture can reflect the personality of the owner.
Overall, the Carbon Apartment is an excellent example of how architecture can reflect the personality of the owner while also placing a heavy emphasis on functionality. The project’s focus on the redistribution of wet areas, the extended kitchen, and the creation of a concrete bench showcase the apartment’s practicality, while the use of contrasting textures and colors throughout the space highlights the apartment’s beauty. CoDA arquitetos did an excellent job of blending the needs of the client with beautiful and functional design elements.
