Location: São Paulo, Brazil.
Architect: Studio MK27.
Ourania is a modest structure of 9 stories and 8 roomy flats in So Paulo, close to the Vila Madalena district’s artistic community. It enjoys a lovely view of a green valley where the sun sets because it is located on a higher altitude of the area. Because of its modular design, which consists of an orthogonal grid of concrete pillars and beams, the designs are fully customizable, allowing each apartment owner to choose how their unit is laid out. The building is structured by the twenty columns that are rhythmically placed around the perimeter of the 48 x 11 metre plan and a central core that houses stairs and elevators, leaving vast spans to be arranged wherever the owner pleases. It is possible to connect every column to an MEP shaft.
The same is true of terraces, which can open to the north or south depending on user preference. Each of the four façades that admit sunlight and air inside faces one of the interior sections. As a result of the flexible configurations each floor might have, the façade is activated. Between the grid, each 6-meter-wide module is closed with a component that may change from glass transparency to white opacity. In between them, automated horizontal shutters and perforated metal panels animate the façade and produce a cinematic ballet of light and shadow inside each environment. The basic approach to the design is highlighted by the elements’ clean lines and light textures, which regulate the overall gameplay. The distinct shapes of Ourania are influenced by Japanese architecture, which was earlier influenced by Brazilian modernism.
