GCB Apartment Kaupapa Matua: Noho Kāinga by Thiago Mondini is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Roto Whare me te Whakaaturanga Competition Category.
ParahiRoto Whare· 2026
GCB Apartment Kaupapa Matua: Noho Kāinga
Client: Thiago Mondini Arquitetura
A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Roto Whare Category
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- Verified Award Winner
- Verify Award Status for #180520
The Design
About GCB Apartment Kaupapa Matua: Noho Kāinga
Kōrero Pukapuka: He whare noho mō tētahi tokorua rangatahi, e whakaatu ana i te kiri rākau māori, ngā taputapu whare tauira hou o Parahi me te hoahoa o nāianei. Ahakoa tōna rahi, he whāiti me te roa te wāhi noho. He wero nui te whakauru i ngā taputapu whare kia tika te ōwehenga hei whakapiki ake i te tirohanga o te wāhi. I hangaia motuhaketia te hōfa me ōna ōwehenga rerekē, engari e mau tonu ana te whakamārie katoa mō te kaiwhakamahi. Ko ngā papa rākau i runga i ngā pakitara me te tuanui ka waihanga i tētahi raina haere tonu e whakanui ana i te wāhi me te whakarite i ngā tirohanga.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award Parahi
Ko GCB Apartment Kaupapa Matua: Noho Kāinga te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko GCB Apartment Kaupapa Matua: Noho Kāinga he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a GCB Apartment Kaupapa Matua: Noho Kāinga i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- This project is a contemporary residence designed for a stylish young couple, distinguished by its seamless integration of natural wood, modernist principles, and a refined Brazilian aesthetic. Its strength lies in the harmonious balance of elegance and warmth, creating a home that is both visually striking and inviting. The design’s unique feature is its ability to merge modern sophistication with a distinctly local character, offering a fresh interpretation of contemporary living.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The apartament measures 180 square meters. The integrated living area, with home-theater, living room, dining room, bar and kitchen measures 70 square meters.
- Tags
- interior design, interiors, architecture, brazilian modern furniture, furniture, modern, contemporary, wood, wooden, living room, living, dining, dining room, home-theater, home theater, apartment, blumenau, brazil, brasil
- Production Technology
- The design focused on optimizing a narrow, elongated living area through precise spatial planning and custom furniture. The sofa was specially crafted with unconventional proportions to maximize comfort while fitting the space. Continuous wooden panels on walls and ceiling guide the eye and unify the environment. The process combined careful proportion studies, material selection, and spatial sequencing to enhance perception, comfort, and visual cohesion throughout the apartment.
- Design Challenge
- The project faced no major technical challenges; the primary difficulty was accommodating all the client’s wishes within a coherent layout. Height limitations were also a key constraint, successfully addressed through the strategic use of continuous paneling, careful furniture proportions, and a considered color palette to enhance spatial perception and harmony.
- Research
- Design-driven research, focused on spatial perception and furniture proportion in a long, narrow apartment. Objectives included maximizing comfort, functionality, and visual coherence despite height and shape constraints. Methodology combined spatial analysis, custom furniture design, and material studies. Data collection used mock-ups, sketches, and client feedback. Participants included the client and design team. Results achieved a harmonious, functional, and inviting space. Insights showed careful proportioning, continuous paneling, and color strategies enhance perception and comfort. Impacts extend to residential design, improving how small or constrained spaces are experienced in real life.
- Inspiration
- Modern and contemporary Brazilian architecture, blending tradition with comfort, and harmonizing design with functionality. This residence is conceived to be both highly functional and welcoming, offering an environment that balances aesthetic refinement with everyday usability.
- Project Duration
- The project started in January 2022, while the building was still in construction, and ended in March 2025. It is located in Blumenau, Brazil.
- Operation Flow
- Upon entering, visitors first experience a cozy home-theater, where wooden panels on walls and ceiling create warmth and intimacy. A 6 mm steel shelf/bookcase subtly separates this area from the living room, guiding movement without blocking views. The living, dining, bar, and kitchen areas flow seamlessly, supporting both daily life and entertaining. This spatial sequencing and visual continuity enhance comfort, circulation, and functional versatility, creating an intuitive and inviting experience.
- Team Members
- Architect: Thiago Mondini
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Denilson Machado
Image #2: Photographer Denilson Machado
Image #3: Photographer Denilson Machado
Image #4: Photographer Denilson Machado
Image #5: Photographer Denilson Machado
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