DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
: When I was invited to create an apartment for the interior design exhibition “Casa Cor Minas Gerais 2014”, in São Sebastião das Águas Claras, Brazil, I was given an empty 55m2 room to do as I pleased. The aim of my design was to create an integrated, elegant and multifunctional space, and to take advantage of the beautiful view over a native forest that spreads along an entire side of the apartment. To make the interior a welcoming and pleasant space, I drew inspiration from the contrasts of nature, giving emphasis to the mixture of textures and colors.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
: Since the building that hosted the exhibition would later become a hotel, the space should function as a serviced apartment, targeting a public of business travelers and executives. When studying the layout possibilities, I decided to focus on fluidity, an essential part of modern life, in order to create an integrated space that would be flexible, functional, elegant and audacious, offering an affective welcome to its future short-term dwellers.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
: The apartment was created for the interior design exhibition “Casa Cor Minas Gerais 2014”, in São Sebastião das Águas Claras, Brazil.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
: The target customers are business travelers and executives, in need of a serviced apartment they can occupy temporarily while travelling or for longer periods, as a “home away from home”. This short-term occupants can take advantage of the functionality of the space, compatible with a tight schedule and demand for efficiency, and enjoy the comforting and personal design. The apartment becomes a source of tranquility and inspiration, a refuge from an otherwise busy and fast-paced life.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
: The need to fit the main everyday activities and areas into a single space, while keeping its fluidity and lightness, led to the choice of an open layout, and of furniture with multiple functions. To deal with the metallic beams of varied sizes, the wood ceiling was divided into plans with different heights, helping to differentiate spaces. A metallic pillar, which became visible after a wall was removed, was coated with a P.V.C. pipe, allowing it to be used as a duct for the electric wires.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
: I was very pleased to receive a personal invitation to take part on the competition.