In the vision of architects Ivo Mareines and Matthieu Van Beneden, partners at Mareines Arquitetura, having creative freedom in developing the Arpoador Triplex project in Rio de Janeiro was essential to achieving an organic and natural aesthetic. The client, a young French investor looking for an apartment in the city, wanted the renovation of the 280 m² unit to include four suites, striking architecture, and a comfortable design.
The first step was adapting the floor plan, as the original layout had small rooms and inefficient circulation. In a process that combined engineering and architecture, the slabs, structures, plumbing, and electrical systems were adjusted to create comfortable and functional spaces. The layout was designed to facilitate access to the home’s communal areas by positioning the master suite on the upper level, the living room and kitchen on the second floor, and the lower level with the remaining three suites—allowing for easy movement between the social and private areas with just one flight of stairs.
With circulation redefined, an internal elevator was installed along with two staircases—one spiral staircase connecting the lower level to the living room, and another linking the living area to the master suite. The open kitchen features a central island, built-in appliances concealed within wooden slatted panels, and a direct connection to the living room, which extends to the balcony. To enhance the sense of spaciousness and bring the Ipanema landscape into the decor, large mirrors and glass panels enclose the living area.
In the master suite, a standout feature is a tree-shaped structure made of laser-cut wooden pieces, enhancing the organic design from the first floor to the ceiling of the second. The space also features wood-clad floors and walls, along with a glass-bottom pool that adds to the aesthetic appeal of the upper level. The decision to embrace organic architecture with urban and natural elements was inspired by the essence of the city itself. Materials such as wood, glass, metal, exposed concrete, and natural stone—used to clad some of the walls—bring a rustic yet contemporary feel to the apartment.
The integration of spaces is the project’s core concept, particularly on the second floor. Originally, this level had a small interior and a large balcony, which was reduced to expand the indoor living area, creating a more spacious, seamless, and inviting environment.
ABOUT MAREINES ARQUITETURA
Mareines Arquitetura is an architecture and urban planning firm that seeks an innovative response to every job. Enthusiastic about architecture, they see projects as a challenge, eschewing pre-established formulas and the repetition of their own solutions. They have completed projects all over Brazil, in states such as Acre, Ceará, Bahia, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Goiás and Minas Gerais, and in countries such as Puerto Rico, Portugal and Saudi Arabia, as well as the city of Jerusalem.
With work published by media outlets all over the world, including Europe and Asia, the harmony between technology, poetics and contemporary design are hallmarks of the firm. In addition, plural architecture, multiculturalism and attention to social and constructive contexts are the focus of each project, which also includes aesthetic quality and concern for a more balanced and sustainable society.
ABOUT IVO MAREINES
Ivo Mareines has a degree in architecture and urbanism and a postgraduate degree in philosophy. In the 1980s and 1990s, he developed independent projects, especially in the cultural field. He has also exhibited as a visual artist at MIS São Paulo, MAM Rio de Janeiro and the São Paulo International Biennial. From 2001 to 2016, he was a founding partner of Mareines+Patalano Arquitetura in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
ABOUT MATTHIEU VAN BENEDEN
Matthieu Van Beneden graduated in Architecture and Design in Brussels, Belgium.He did an exchange in 2009 as an intern at Mareines+Patalano Arquitetura and, at the end of 2011, returned to Brazil and began working as an architect.He has participated in important projects such as the Residence in the Dominican Republic, the Museum of the Sea in Santa Cruz de Cabrália, as well as resorts in the Amazon and Northeast Brazil. In 2017 he joined Mareines Arquitetura as an important element in the firm's internationalization process.As a Belgian and honorary Carioca, he blends the spirit of European tradition with the luminosity of Rio de Janeiro.
