The Vila Madalena Apartment by Shinagawa Arquitetura has been named Winner in Interior Design Residential at the BLT Built Design Awards. Designed for family living, it blends openness, comfort and material harmony in the heart of São Paulo.
Led by Rogério Shinagawa with Paulo Marques, Rafael Nery and Lucas Casale, the design team created spaces that flow naturally and connect to the outdoors. Light stone flooring brightens the interiors and expands the sense of space, while warm wooden panels bring rhythm and intimacy. These panels double as doors, cabinets and shelves, subtly dividing the open plan without breaking its unity. In the upper living room, wood continues across the ceiling, lowering the scale and wrapping the room in warmth.
Curves from the building’s architecture inspired bespoke furniture and stair details, balancing the rectilinear lines of the carpentry. At the center stands a striking metal staircase, its fine steel profile paired with solid stone landings, offering a sculptural mix of lightness and weight. Lighting by Laboratório da Luz enhances the textures and atmosphere, while photography by Evelyn Muller captures the layered calm of the interiors.
For Shinagawa Arquitetura, founded by Rogério Shinagawa, the project is part of a broader vision that values light, honest materials and a strong connection with context. Educated at PUC Campinas and FAUP Porto, Shinagawa brings clarity, craft and comfort to contemporary Brazilian homes. His work has been recognized internationally at the BLT Built Design Awards, DNA Paris Design Awards and INT Interior Design Awards.
Credits
Prize: Winner in Interior Design Residential
Design Company / Architecture Firm / Interior Designer: Shinagawa Arquitetura
Lead Designer: Rogério Shinagawa
Design Team: Rogério Shinagawa, Paulo Marques, Rafael Nery, Lucas Casale
Lighting Design: Laboratório da Luz
Photo Credit: Evelyn Muller
Project Location: São Paulo
Project Date: 2022
