A Contemporary Retreat on Copacabana Beach
Showcases the Jaw-Dropping Views
WRITTEN BY MARESA GIOVANNINI | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLUE PARALLEL VILLAS
Sometimes interior designers require remarkable artwork, luxurious fabrics, and antique furniture to complete a living space; other times, all they need is a view.
In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, an international city known for its lavish Carnival and tropical landscape, it’s the windows that frame the city’s natural works of art. In this ninth-floor penthouse apartment, towering above the world-famous Copacabana Beach, an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows showcases a breathtaking view of the South Atlantic and all the excitement of this desirable destination.
“This apartment perfectly complements the bustle and fast pace of Rio,” says Emmanuel Burgio, founder and CEO of exclusive travel boutique Blue Parallel. “The natural light, open spaces, and tranquility of the apartment are the perfect counterbalance to the vitality and intensity of the streets and beaches of Rio.” This home, known as The Carnival, was originally designed for the homeowners but is available through Blue Parallel Villas as a short-stay rental.
The 6,243-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bathroom penthouse is located in an exclusive twelve-floor building with just one apartment per floor. An elevator opens directly into the spacious abode, which was originally built in the 1950s but was completely renovated in 2007 by Rio de Janeiro–based HouseInRio Projects. The design and architecture team is known for its full-scale remodels, which represent the top tier of what Brazil has to offer in style, sustainability, and local materials; this design is no different.
Described as Brazilian contemporary in style, the roomy apartment blends natural materials, colors, and elements with an industrial foundation. The clean, modern color palette highlights variations of tan, cream, white, brown, gray, black, and accents of muted blue and green. Polished, painted cement floors; paneled sliding windows; and substantial support columns provide an industrial influence. The cold base is softened with local woods, such as Freijó; natural fibers; authentic cowhide rugs; and rotating tropical Brazilian plants. Appropriately fit to scale, oversize artwork from the homeowners’ personal collection provides a bit of inspired color and depth in the minimalist apartment.
The sizeable living room is unusual for Rio de Janeiro, where space is at a premium. To maintain emphasis on the view, the room is void of superfluous accessories and fitted simply with a few seating areas. Oversize plush sofas, chaise lounges, and director chairs provide numerous vantage points to view the city and beach below. Custom-made sectionals with intricate bamboo bases and cushions covered in breathable linen encourage comfortable conversations and lounging, while banana leaf seating and floor mats in front of the wall of windows create an ideal spot for morning stretches.
The tranquil and minimalist design of the living space and other rooms in the home promote relaxation and conversation. The en-suite master bathroom features a stand-up shower, glass-enclosed steam room, and a vessel sink for a spa-like feel.
Although the design of the home is minimalist, the amenities are modern and sophisticated. Because it is a vacation home, the apartment is fully stocked with everything an international traveler would need for in-home entertainment. A projection television is available for evening screenings in the living area, surround sound and an iPod dock make background music easily accessible, and high-speed Internet access and a fax machine help maintain ties to the world outside the relaxing retreat locale. Regardless of all that the home has to offer visitors, the view remains the reason to rent. “The architectural genius of the design orients the space so that the longest part of the apart
ment is the outer window, rather than the depth of the apartment from the window,” says Burgio. “This maximizes the full potential of the pan-Copacabana view. Guests can admire this view and enjoy being on Copacabana, yet in complete privacy…. Here, guests enjoy the beauty and vitality of the most legendary beach on the continent, yet in the serenity of their own retreat.”
ment is the outer window, rather than the depth of the apartment from the window,” says Burgio. “This maximizes the full potential of the pan-Copacabana view. Guests can admire this view and enjoy being on Copacabana, yet in complete privacy…. Here, guests enjoy the beauty and vitality of the most legendary beach on the continent, yet in the serenity of their own retreat.”
Brenda Mancil, Realtor®
bmancil@remax.net | 214-679-1772
www.HomesPricedToSell.com | www.DallasLuxuryNeighborhoods.com
Wow....how fun is this? I would love to visit for the tour alone! Sounds astounding!
You and me both Larry!