vazio s/a: 285 montevideo

‘285 montevideo’ by vazio s/a in belo horizonte, brazil images © leonardo finotti, carlos teixeira

brazil based firm vazio s/a has completed 285 montevideo, an apartment block located in belo horizonte, brazil. this multistory residential building features a narrow profile with its elongated facade oriented towards the east. a cubic arrangement of metal screens shield openings while concealing vital building elements. vegetated planters are scattered throughout the facade bringing a touch of color to the monochromatic shell while warm wood railings accentuate the vertical circulation core.

entrance facade

individual garden boxes project from the exterior wall within the immediate vicinity of windows for ease of accessibility while open air stairs connect roof terraces generating shared spaces. continuous communal gardens are placed at the ground, midpoint and roof levels. external design gestures transcend large glass windows and continue into the interior. partitions contain aligned portals and penetrations to provide dwellers with ideal passive cross ventilation.

east facade

stairs on roof terrace overlooking the urban landscape

metal screens projecting from exterior wall

(left) screens shading windows from direct sunlight (right) screens are strategically placed to conceal drainage pipes

view of neighboring building

apartment interior

conceptual facade model

section perspective

model

model