AT THE HEART of this project is a series of playful balancing acts – between vernacular Brazilian architecture and the inevitable influence of globalisation, between classic design and a contemporary aesthetic, between art, architecture and interior. In the hands of Brazilian architect Guilherme Torres, these seemingly disparate elements meld into a seamless whole.
Located in Recife, one of the largest cities in northern Brazil, the original 1980s triplex apartment was all dark surfaces and granite. “It resembled a granite tomb!” Guilherme laughs. “During the process, we demolished all the internal walls and reconfigured all the spaces, the circulation, the layout and the finishes. Once the new shell was ready, we started from scratch with the decor.” The resulting apartment spans three levels, culminating in an almost impossibly picturesque roof deck.…