A Sao Paulo Apartment Designed Around the Owner's 5,000 CDs

"Some homes are designed to impress; others are designed to reflect the people who live inside them. Apartment NUBE, designed by Nati Minas & Studio + Flipê Arquitetura, manages to do both while floating - figuratively, of course - like a cloud above São Paulo, Brazil's tree-lined Jardim Europa neighborhood. The urban retreat carefully balances calm with a sense of drama, thanks to the double-height living space, sliding glass walls that disappear, and the homeowner's astonishing collection of more than 5,000 CDs."

"From the moment you step inside, it's clear this 4,521-square-foot apartment wasn't designed around trends. Instead, it was carefully orchestrated around the lives of the residents themselves. The architects studied the pair's daily habits, designing a layout that accommodates everything from quiet meals to large family gatherings. In addition to the expansive spaces that can welcome bigger get-togethers, the home also features areas just for the couple, like the intimate kitchen, bar, wine cellar, home theater, and office."

""Translating the essence of the resident or brand into architecture is what fascinates me," says architect Nati Minas. "Each project is a portrait - shaped through our perspective - of the family or brand that will inhabit the space. Listening, understanding, and creating new possibilities are our most valuable tools." Rather than treating the CD collection as clutter or simply hiding it away in a closed-off room, the design turns it into architecture."

Apartment NUBE occupies 4,521 square feet above Jardim Europa in São Paulo and balances calm with dramatic spatial gestures. The layout responds to residents' daily habits, providing expansive areas for gatherings alongside intimate zones such as an enclosed kitchen, bar, wine cellar, home theater, and office. Double-height living spaces and sliding glass walls enhance light and spatial flexibility. The homeowner's collection of over 5,000 CDs is integrated into the architecture, with shelving along the structural perimeter and elevated walkways for browsing. Repeating wood-framed modules and an angular staircase with textured wood and rustic granite treads organize vertical movement and visual focus.

Read at Design Milk