Nube Building + RJK Apartment

The NUBE building was the first residential tower designed and built by Jacobsen Arquitetura. Unlike previous projects, in which we adapted the facades and interior design concepts to existent structures; in the NUBE building, we had the opportunity to work, from the beginning, the occupation of the area located in Itaim Bibi (São Paulo, Brazil).

In this project, we intended to reinterpret architectural concepts present in the residences designed by the office. We aimed to create a feeling of living in a one-story house in each apartment. As part of the architectural design, we sought to frame a magnificent and unimpeded view of the Jardins residential district from a large empty space, around which the apartments were arranged, whose plants are L-shaped. The social areas of each apartment face a privileged view, observed from floor-to-ceiling frames.

The suites face the opposite side, and the service areas to the back. Each floor has been horizontally marked for extended eaves, contributing to the building’s privacy and sun protection. For the other façades, vertical modified wood brise-soleils were designed, a sustainable solution that offers good weatherability.

The building structure, detached from the fence, is composed of pillars of circular section. The tower has fifteen floors, the last three floors being occupied by a large triplex unit, on top of two duplex apartments. A large garden connects the street to the main entrance, purposefully set back. To access the building, it is necessary to walk the bridge of Madeira, protected by the construction project. The distribution of flowerbeds on different levels, on the ground floor, contributes to transmitting the impression of greater amplitude. Without a noble floor, it is a place for a covered swimming pool, lounge, sauna, and other technical areas, surrounded by exposed stones that define the terrace.

RJK APARTMENT

Located on the top floor of the NUBE Building – also designed by the firm – the RJK Apartment occupies the top three floors of the penthouse, with sweeping views of São Paulo and an atmosphere that combines the comfort of a home with the bustling urban life. The social area is marked by large spans, double-height ceilings and a composition of furniture and works of art that reflect the personality of the clients. Upon arrival, the visitor is greeted by a generous living room integrated with the dining room, where the piano plays a central role in the ambiance. The wooden ceiling and continuous stone floor, which extend throughout the apartment, reinforce the choice of natural materials.

A staircase stands out as a sculptural object, independent of the other volumes, and acts as a vertical circulation box — light and structurally precise — connecting the three floors of the residence.

The second floor houses the children’s and guest suites, as well as an office strategically positioned to take advantage of the view. All the bedrooms face the outside, protected by the brise-soleils of the NUBE facade, ensuring privacy and thermal comfort.

On the top floor, the apartment takes on the air of a suspended house. Here is located the master suite, a private living room and an outdoor area with a pool and gourmet area. The pool, with a generous depth made possible by the double height ceiling of the first two floors, is covered with the same material as the interior flooring, creating visual and sensory continuity. The wooden ceiling extends to the eaves of the roof, as an architectural gesture that expands the protection and accentuates the horizontality of the upper volume.