A São Paulo Apartment Designed Around the Owner’s 5,000 CDs

ByMyProperty Life 01/12/2025

Some homes are designed to impress; others are designed to reflect the people who live inside them. Apartment NUBE, designed by Nati Minas & Studio + Flipê Arquitetura, manages to do both while floating – figuratively, of course – like a cloud above São Paulo, Brazil’s tree-lined Jardim Europa neighborhood. The urban retreat carefully balances calm with a sense of drama, thanks to the double-height living space, sliding glass walls that disappear, and the homeowner’s astonishing collection of more than 5,000 CDs.

Modern interior with wooden grid ceiling, floor-to-ceiling shelving filled with CDs, glass railing, stairs, green plant, and framed artwork on white walls.

From the moment you step inside, it’s clear this 4,521-square-foot apartment wasn’t designed around trends. Instead, it was carefully orchestrated around the lives of the residents themselves. The architects studied the pair’s daily habits, designing a layout that accommodates everything from quiet meals to large family gatherings. In addition to the expansive spaces that can welcome bigger get-togethers, the home also features areas just for the couple, like the intimate kitchen, bar, wine cellar, home theater, and office.

A person descends a light wood staircase in a modern interior with plants, artwork, glass railing, and a wall lined with bookshelves.

“Translating the essence of the resident or brand into architecture is what fascinates me,” says architect Nati Minas. “Each project is a portrait – shaped through our perspective – of the family or brand that will inhabit the space. Listening, understanding, and creating new possibilities are our most valuable tools.”

Modern office with a wall of model cars, an Eames lounge chair, built-in shelving, floor-to-ceiling windows, and indoor plants.

A folding wooden door partially open in a modern interior with stone and wood walls, shelves with books, and indoor plants.

Modern building with large glass windows, horizontal metal louvers, and an interior lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. A tan sofa is visible inside near the window.

Rather than treating the CD collection as clutter or simply hiding it away in a closed-off room, the design turns it into architecture. Shelves line the apartment’s structural perimeter, elevated on walkways that encourage flipping through the musical archives looking for a favorite album. The repeating wood-framed modules guide the eye upward into the double-height living room, where natural light pours in through windows.

Interior view of a staircase with wooden paneling and stone steps; in the background, a large window reveals rows of bookshelves.

An angular staircase wrapped in a light, textured wood with rustic granite treads, connects the two floors and anchors the space with its sculptural presence.

A top-down view of a modern, light wood spiral staircase with textured steps and vertical slatted railing.

Modern interior with a floating wooden staircase, lush green potted plants beneath, and a teal table lamp on the left side of the image.

Modern interior with a central wooden staircase, large potted plants, and natural light. Features a grid ceiling, glass railing, and minimalist decor. Artworks visible on the upper wall.

Apartment NUBE’s palette leans into texture in a tactile, grounding way. Chunky granite slabs appear throughout: an entrance wall with a hidden door, the sculptural staircase, the kitchen’s working surfaces, and the bar island. Their rugged surfaces contrast beautifully with the smoothness of the wood that spans the floors and ceilings, giving the social areas a sense of warmth.

Modern interior with a geometric ceiling, large bookshelf, open staircase, indoor plants, and orange sofa in a bright, spacious living area with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Modern living room with orange sofa, potted plants, an open magazine, wooden staircase, large windows, and view of city buildings.

Modern living room with an orange sofa, round rug, black coffee tables, large windows, and a double-height ceiling featuring a lofted wall of bookshelves.

Interspersed with the mostly neutral palette are curated moments of color, from the greenery tucked away under the stairs atop custom-carved stone bases, to the freestanding furniture pieces that define each zone without interrupting the apartment’s flow. The combination is serene but never boring.

Modern living room with minimalist decor, featuring a tan sofa, two black chairs, round rugs, low tables, bookshelves, and large windows letting in natural light.

A modern living room with beige lounge chairs, an orange armchair with ottoman, black shelves, a floor lamp, a bookshelf, and a large abstract blue painting on the wall.

Modern living room with a large white sectional sofa, orange velvet chair and ottoman, indoor plants, built-in shelving, and wood-paneled ceiling and floors.

A modern lounge area with four beige armchairs around a round table, glass doors, a wine rack, and wooden ceiling panels.

Just off the living room is a cozy bar area with the enclosed wine cellar that feels like a lounge where the couple can enjoy a drink together or with friends sitting around a low table. The space feels private, but is close enough to the kitchen when snacks are needed.

Minimalist living room with light wood floors, a beige woven rug, two vertical room dividers, a grey sofa, and built-in shelving along the back wall with a few books.

Modern living space with beige sofa, textured stone wall, wooden partition panels, and a dining area with orange chairs and a light wood table in the background.

Modern apartment interior with wood paneling, open staircase, large windows, a brown sofa, indoor plants, and a view of trees and city buildings outside.

Modern dining area with round table and four chairs, glass railing, and a blurred person walking in a bright, minimalist interior with wooden finishes and staircase in the background.

Modern kitchen with light wood cabinets, a central island with a marble countertop, three wooden bar stools, built-in ovens, and large windows with blinds.

A kitchen with wood cabinets and a stove.

Minimalist bathroom with a stone sink, an oval mirror, a metallic towel bar, and beige plaster walls.

A minimalist bedroom with a wooden slat accent wall, a bed with white bedding and two pillows, and a low wooden headboard with modern lamps and decor items on each side.

Modern bedroom with wood-paneled walls and ceiling, large bed, tan lounge chair, floor lamp, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking an apartment building.

Modern bathroom with beige square tile walls, a walk-in shower with a ceiling-mounted showerhead, a rectangular mirror, a floating vanity, and a large window providing natural light.

For more information on Apartment NUBE by Nati Minas & Studio and Flipê Arquitetura, please visit natiminasestudio.com.br.

Photography by Fran Parente.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.