- Interior
In his projects, Arthur Casas always looks for the solution that best suits the life and needs of the client, but also reflects the landscape. A recent realisation by the Brazilian designer, in collaboration with Marina Werfel, is a perfect example of this approach.
Studio Arthur Casas always focuses on the individual in its projects. ‘Houses, buildings and environments not only shelter our bodies and our actions, but they also harbour our minds, our dreams, our memories and our desires. Architecture and design give shape to the human experience of being in the world, strengthening our notion of being and directly influencing our lives,’ we hear at the Brazilian architecture and design studio founded in 1999. With offices in São Paulo and New York, they work on projects worldwide and are regularly featured in the international press. 
We too have put the work of Arthur Casas and his team in the spotlight several times before, and when seeing the images, we had no choice but to share this recent creation, a flat for a family of four in Paris, with our readers as well. The project is also the result of a special collaboration between Arthur Casas and Marina Werfel of WER Designs. She started her career with Casas, where she worked for eight years leading residential projects and even managed international projects from the New York office. Werfel started her own office in London (now with an office in Porto) and given her continued affinity with the design philosophy of Studio Arthur Casas, as well as her current geographical position, she was the ideal partner for this project on the European mainland.
The result of all their efforts is truly sublime.
‘The location of each project, the climate, the cultural issue, the needs of those who will occupy the space and also the aesthetic repertoire of the city and country where we will implement the project… they all determine its aesthetics,’ Arthur Casas tells us. This was of course also the case for TP Apartment, a 177 m2 flat in Paris for a couple with their two children. For the client, it was particularly important to have a practical space for family life and where they could invite friends and family for festive gatherings. ‘We managed to achieve this by offering a social area that includes, in the same environment, the living room, the dining room and the kitchen,’ explains the interior designer. 
At the same time, the residence is located in an elegant street with many famous fashion shops and art galleries nearby. The flat is also located in a 17th century building with many characteristic elements (visible wooden beams, sloping walls) from that period. Casas, however, took great pleasure in making sure the interior design aligned seamlessly with these elements: ‘I loved revisiting the antique shops, visiting new stores and suppliers in Paris, a city where I lived for some time 30 years ago.’ Working with the constraints imposed by the original structure of the flat, while respecting the condition of the building, was the biggest challenge for Casas and his team. The furniture became a decisive factor in defining the new layout. We see brands and names such as Vladimir Kagan, Liaigre, Gio Ponti, Andrée Putman and Pierre Chareau, complemented by tailor-made pieces by Arthur Casas and works of art by Richard Serra and Raymond Guerrier, among others. The monochrome palette creates a pleasing aesthetic harmony. As mentioned above, this project was a collaboration between Studio Arthur Casas and WER Designs, founded by Marina Werfel. ‘Marina accompanied me at stores in Paris, was always present with clients during the project, managed the issues of work and hiring labor, communicated with suppliers and helped with decisions in general,’ Arthur Casas tells us with great gratitude. The result of all their efforts is truly sublime and we are already looking forward to the next projects that Casas and Werfel will bring, together or separately! 
This feature was originally published in Imagicasa Autumn 2020. You can still order this issue and read our full interview with Arthur Casas.
Photography by Filippo Bamberghi