Escaping Urban Chaos In the Serene and Intimate Selo Store

MNMA Studio Created a Monochrome Refuge With Selo

Project:
Selo
Architects:
MNMA Studio
Location:
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Photography:
André Klotz
Words:
Caroline Meeusen

The Sao Paulo-based transdisciplinary architecture studio MNMA has developed a unique design language of sensitivity, simplicity, and intimacy with which they create beautiful projects, diverse in scale. “We believe in processes that do not speak of form but rather of sensations, from ephemeral to the permanent, that way, the architecture surpasses the simple answer in terms of material comfort and above all, it fulfills its greater task when it does not become an individual activity” the studio notes.

Without restrictions in their the use of materials and with a touching subtlety, the studio brings to life monochrome minimalist spaces that transcend a certain intimacy and elegance. Among these stunning realizations is their Selo project, a restoration of the handmade shoe brand’s retail store.

The hustle and bustle of the lively Sao Paulo inspired MNMA to create a kind of escape and serene atmosphere. The sidewalk alignment and fluid circulation make it seamlessly accessible. Wanting to create a façade contrasting with the chaotic city but still incorporate some urbanity, the studio chose to use cement slates and frameless glass but pigmented to add lightness.

Inside, the store combines a sense of rawness and minimalist elegance. The soft, monochrome color and material palette create a calm atmosphere highlighting the textures and occasional '50s furniture. A remodeled rounded skylight provides a clear view of the sky and a connection to nature and time. Celebrating the works of artist James Turrell, the window also serves “to have some human scale perspective, reminding us that we share the same sky.”

During the renovation and expansion of materials, the floor started to show some natural cracks. The studio decided to apply a variation on the well-known kintsugi technique, where cracks are filled with a golden mixture to honor the impurities, making the space even more unique and sensitive.