Header: Alexandre Disaro
Located in São Paulo, Brazil, Conjunto Itália, a 145-square-metre law office, sits inside Edifício Itália, one of the country’s best-known modernist buildings. Architect Raphael Wittmann of RAWI Arquitetura renovated the space, updating it to be comfortably used as a contemporary office while also respecting the building’s original 1953 architectural elements.
The main elements influencing the design
Edifício Itália was designed by Franz Heep, a German-Brazilian architect who played a major role in São Paulo’s growth upwards during the 1950s and 1960s. His work was shaped by European modernism, including time spent in Paris and work with Le Corbusier, before he moved to Brazil.
Defined by its rounded floor plates, the building presented important challenges for organising the spatial programme requested by the clients. The proposal needed to accommodate reception areas, meeting rooms, executive offices, workstations and support spaces without compromising spatial fluidity or the constant relationship with natural light.
The façade, composed entirely of brise-soleils, plays a fundamental role in the experience of the interiors, controlling solar exposure throughout the day while framing privileged views of the city from different points within the office. This connection with the building’s original architecture influenced several design decisions throughout the project.
The selected materials also played an important role in shaping the identity of the space. The decision to preserve the two circular columns and the exposed concrete ceiling in the reception area reinforces the intention to highlight the structure of this singular building. Meanwhile, the cement tiles used in the pantry and restrooms introduce a contemporary atmosphere without losing the material’s traditional character.
Pantry and restrooms: cement and colour
The pantry is considered one of the project’s main gathering spaces, having been conceived as an area for relaxation and team interaction. Entirely designed in blue, in direct reference to the law firm’s visual identity, the space was designed as a large functional monoblock that can either fully open or close through wooden panels, bringing personality and flexibility while adapting to different uses.
Like the pantry, the restrooms follow the same compositional language, incorporating additional colours into the project’s palette and introducing a more relaxed atmosphere in contrast to the sobriety of the remaining spaces.
A huge bookcase and the office area
In the reception area, an extensive metal bookshelf takes centre stage by defining a subtle boundary between spaces while also housing the client’s book collection. Around it, executive offices, meeting rooms and workstations remain visually connected through transparent partitions, which also helps the diffusion of natural daylight through the interior.
In the office area, a curved wall visible from the entrance references the geometry of the building itself, reinforcing the dialogue between the original architecture and the contemporary intervention.
Developed in collaboration with Mathews Fernandes, Rodrigo Marques, Vanessa Izidorio and Wilmar Souza, the project enhances the original modernist elements of Edifício Itália while creating workspaces that feel more welcoming, fluid and connected to São Paulo’s urban landscape.
Project information
Architecture Company: RAWI Arquitetura
Lead Designer: Raphael Wittmann
Other Designers’ Names: Mathews Fernandes, Rodrigo Marques, Vanessa Izidorio, Wilmar Souza
Photo Credit: Alexandre Disaro
Location: São Paulo, Brazil
Date: 2020
Area: 145 m²
