São Paulo, Brazil

Perkins&Will’s new residential project blends the company’s contemporary aesthetic, clean lines, emphasis in open spaces, and a strong emphasis on natural light proving that art and architecture have a relationship of mutual and continuous inspiration.

Named Figueira Leopoldo, this residential tower’s design is inspired by kinetic art, a movement that explores visual effects through physical movements, optical illusions or the positioning of pieces.

For its conception, Figueira Leopoldo has recently been awarded a 2024 Future House Award by Global Design News and The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.

“The incredible work of the Brazilian artist Abraham Palatnik had a great influence on this project. We created a mobile, dynamic building that takes on a new aesthetic and relationship with the observer depending on the angle and time at which it is seen”, says Douglas Tolaine, project leader and design director at Perkins&Will São Paulo.

“Through the façade, which creates these effects, the building relates to the surroundings and the city.”

The façade is the result of a collaboration between Perkins&Will and Hunter Douglas: the called Sliding Shutter is composed of 2800 sqm of wooden panels in a gradient, starting from a lighter tone, passing through a medium tone until reaching darker nuances, allowing the building to be admired from great distances.

The sliding brises give even more movement to the building’s identity, in addition to helping to control natural lighting and ventilation in the apartments.

“Throughout the entire building, the brises take on the leading role of moving on each floor and creating a work of art that will have a new configuration every day, just like the works of our inspiring artist”, adds Tolaine.

Located on Leopoldo Couto de Magalhães street, the building presented a great challenge to the architects: fitting the program of a high-end building into a plot of 1,793.61 sqm. As a solution, the project was divided into two parts.

“The division resulted in separate social and service areas, a feature that will provide a 360º view of the entire intimate area, without interrupting the service core in the middle of the layout”, explains Adriana Barbosa, Project Manager.

Project: Figueira Leopoldo
Architects: Perkins&Will
Design Team: Douglas Tolaine, Fernando Vidal, Lara Kaiser, Adriana Barbosa, Fátima Oliveira, Adriana Collet, Daniel Falcão, Gabriel Freitas, Isabella Gasparini, Rodrigo Gianoni, Giovanna Mello, Fabio Pittas, Letícia Piza, and Carlos Arthur Souza
General Contractor: MPD Engenharia; Helbor Imobiliária
Client: MPD Engenharia and Helbor Imobiliária
Photographers: Neorama