studio arthur casas wraps ribbed concrete tower with vertical gardens in são paulo

studio arthur casas grows garden-wrapped tower in são paulo

Located on a corner lot in the Moema neighborhood of São Paulo, Ibaté by Studio Arthur Casas unfolds as a monolith of exposed concrete softened by vertical landscaping and human-centric design. With just one spacious unit per floor, the 21,000 square-meter residential building offers privacy and openness in equal measure, integrating cross-ventilation, solar orientation, and generous terraces.

Studio Arthur Casas chooses to leave the concrete frame of the tower fully exposed. The facades are made of ribbed, warm-toned concrete that isn’t clad or painted, allowing the raw material to speak for itself. Built into the grid are vertical planters, which soften the strong, sculptural presence but also help regulate temperature and connect the building more closely with its tropical surroundings. 

all images by Fran Parente

ibaré opens up to the street with public-facing design

Each 450-square-meter apartment in Ibaté spans an entire floor and is accessed via dual elevator cores. The São Paulo- and New York-based architects at Studio Arthur Casas clearly divide public, private, and service areas while maintaining fluid transitions between them. Perimeter terraces wrap around each unit, acting as outdoor extensions of the living spaces. Their design is subtly modulated with staggered planters that shift floor by floor, breaking visual monotony, with large glass openings and brass-finished aluminum guardrails completing the envelope.

The interface between the building and the street departs from São Paulo’s typical urban defensiveness. At ground level, Ibaté resists heavy gates or walls, offering instead a glazed enclosure that works as a threshold to the city. This open, landscaped plaza connects with the sidewalk and includes furniture, a steel sculpture by Túlio Pinto, and communal areas such as the pool and elevator lobby. 

a monolith of exposed concrete softened by vertical landscaping

wood, glass, and metal finishes complete the interiors

Studio Arthur Casas balances Ibaté’s raw concrete with the warmth of wood, glass, and brushed metal finishes. Technical components are concealed behind wooden panels that maintain visual clarity, while curated furniture by Brazilian designers, including Jorge Zalszupin, Guilherme Wentz, and Arthur Casas himself, brings heritage and contemporaneity into conversation. 

Sustainability is integrated into the building from the start with solar panels heating the pool, a graywater system allowing for water reuse, and EV charging points built in. Cross-ventilation and dense greenery help reduce the need for air conditioning, improving energy efficiency while keeping the spaces comfortable.

the 21,000 square-meter residential building offers privacy and openness in equal measure

integrating cross-ventilation, solar orientation, and generous terraces

the facades are made of ribbed, warm-toned concrete

the raw material speaks for itself

each 450-square-meter apartment in Ibaté spans an entire floor

Studio Arthur Casas clearly divides public, private, and service areas

raw concrete balances with the warmth of wood, glass, and brushed metal finishes

vertical planters are built into the grid

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the gardens soften the strong, sculptural presence

sustainability is integrated into the building from the start

a graywater system allows for water reuse

cross-ventilation and dense greenery help reduce the need for air conditioning

improving energy efficiency while keeping the spaces comfortable

technical components are concealed behind wooden panels

curated furniture by Brazilian designers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

project info:

name: Ibaté

architect: Studio Arthur Casas | @studio.arthurcasas

location: Moema, São Paulo, Brazil

built area: 21,082.02 square meters

land area: 2,162 sqm

co-arch: Gabriel Ranieri

landscaping: Arterra

developer: Cáucaso

project management – architecture: Cadu Vilela

project management – interiors: Mariana Santoro

project management – decoration: Fabiola Andrade

decoration coordinator: Paulina Tabet

acoustics: Harmoni

structure: Roberto Leme

concrete: Gabriel Regino

foundations: MG&A

frames (windows/glazing): Crescêncio

partitions/walls: Paula Vianna

waterproofing: Proasp

lighting design: Ilumination

visual communication: Nitsche

carpentry: Inovart

window frames & guardrails: Luxalum

lighting fixtures: Elight, Lumini, LD Arti, Luxsim

furniture & objects: +55design, By Kamy, Studio Objeto, Lattoog, Boobam, Vallvé, Srta Galante, Wentz, L’oeil, Pair Store, Herança Cultural, Etel, Micasa, Jorge Zalszupin

visual communication: F Teo Design

collaborators: Adriano Bergemann, Marcelo Beretta, Luciano Sessa, Rodrigo Carvalho, Beto Cabariti, Reginaldo Machado, Yuri Chamon, Beatriz Costa, Renan Prandini, Vinicius Bazan, Alessandra Mattar, Giuliana Maia, Luisa Mader, Raul Valadão, Marcelo Melo, Marcela Du Plessis, Rafael Palombo, Camilla Dall’Oca, Paulina Tabet, Marcella França, Virginia Fornari, Leonardo Navarro, Amanda Tamburus, Conrado Almeida, Natalia Lorenzoni

photographer: Fran Parente | @franparente