Ibaté: A Residential Tower in São Paulo Balances Monumentality and Intimacy

Words by Eric David

12 September 2025

Ibaté: A Residential Tower in São Paulo Balances Monumentality and Intimacy

Words by Eric David

12 September 2025

Architecture Matters

São Paulo, Brazil

Rising above the leafy streets of Vila Nova Conceição, an upscale neighbourhood in São Paulo, Ibaté cuts a striking figure in the city’s skyline. Designed by acclaimed Brazilian architect Arthur Casas, the 21-storey residential tower stands out not for flamboyant gestures but for its slender, carefully proportioned form: a tall, narrow volume of ribbed concrete softened by cascading vegetation. At once monumental and porous, the building exemplifies Casas’ talent for reconciling the scale of the metropolis with the intimacy of domestic life.

Casas’ work has always been marked by dialogue between scales, between modernist rigour and Brazilian sensibility, and between the city and nature. This project also mediates between São Paulo’s dense verticality and in this case, the neighbourhood’s quieter residential grid. The building is at once a vertical landmark and a porous urban gesture: rather than sealing itself off, it engages the street with an open, landscaped forecourt that doubles as a social threshold.

A vertical composition focusing on the textured concrete facade, where staggered balconies host cascading greenery. The interplay of rigid architectural lines and organic plant life highlights the building's biophilic design, softening its brutalist origins.

Photography by Fran Parente.

An impressive panoramic view of the Ibaté residential tower by Studio Arthur Casas, rising amidst the urban landscape of São Paulo. Its brutalist concrete structure is softened by an abundance of integrated vertical greenery, presenting a compelling vision of biophilic architecture in a dense city.

Photography by Fran Parente.

An expansive urban view of São Paulo, featuring the Ibaté tower as a prominent example of biophilic design by Studio Arthur Casas. The building's verdant facade and brutalist concrete form create a striking architectural presence, demonstrating how nature can be woven into high-density living. — Photography by Fran Parente.

An elevated perspective of the Ibaté tower, revealing its majestic presence within the São Paulo cityscape. The building's concrete form is softened by widespread vertical greenery, emphasizing its role as a biophilic landmark that merges architectural strength with natural beauty. — Photography by Fran Parente.

The most distinctive aspect of Ibaté is its elegant silhouette. Each floor accommodates a single 450-square-metre apartment, a layout that allows the building to remain unusually slim for its height. Continuous perimeter terraces wrap around every unit on two sides, punctuated by planters that alternate positions from floor to floor, a modulation that avoids monotony while introducing a subtle rhythm to the façades.

The decision to leave the structural concrete exposed, pigmented in warm tones and articulated with vertical ribs, reinforces the tower’s clarity of expression. Rather than cladding or embellishment, the material serves as both structure and surface, anchoring the building’s identity while accommodating the natural growth that animates it. Aluminium guardrails with a brass finish and large expanses of glazing complete the envelope, striking a balance between solidity and transparency. Over time, as climbing plants cascade down the ribbed concrete, the building’s stark volume will be softened by enveloping greenery.

A detailed view of the upper sections of the tower, emphasizing the bold concrete massing of the penthouse level and the rhythmic pattern of the balconies below. Sparse but intentional greenery on some terraces adds a delicate touch, highlighting the building's refined brutalist aesthetic. — Photography by Fran Parente.

A close-up of this project's facade reveals a textured tapestry of vertical metal balustrades and cascading green vines that soften the concrete balconies. This intricate biophilic layering showcases the building's living skin, blurring the line between architecture and nature in a vibrant display. — Photography by Fran Parente.

Photography by Fran Parente.
Photography by Fran Parente.
Photography by Fran Parente.

The Ibaté building dramatically rises above a canopy of lush green trees, showcasing its striking brutalist facade intertwined with cascading vegetation. The concrete and integrated plants create a unique dialogue between urban density and natural softness, characteristic of Studio Arthur Casas's design.

Photography by Fran Parente.

An upward angle showcasing the top floors of the tower, revealing the striking cantilevered concrete balconies and a refined system of vertical metal balustrades. Greenery emerges from some terraces, subtly integrating nature into the minimalist, industrial aesthetic against a clear blue sky.

Photography by Fran Parente.

An aerial perspective captures the dynamic facade, where concrete balconies with vertical screens are lush with trailing green plants. The building's layered form integrates seamlessly with the surrounding mature trees and green rooftops, showcasing a biophilic approach to high-rise living in São Paulo.

Photography by Fran Parente.

A captivating exterior shot of the project, where massive concrete beams frame lush green plantings that spill over the edges. Below, a welcoming entrance with warm interior lighting and an abstract rusted metal sculpture creates a textural and inviting transition from the vibrant natural surroundings. — Photography by Fran Parente.

If the tower’s vertical presence commands attention, its ground-level public spaces quietly redefine the relationship between residential buildings and the city. Stepping inside, visitors enter a light-filled lobby that looks out onto the property’s landscaped gardens. A monumental corten steel structure by artist Túlio Pinto anchors the space, acting both as a sculptural focal point and as a subtle divider between the lobby and the indoor pool behind it. Running the length of the building, the pool’s slim, elongated form mirrors the tower’s footprint, with its enclosure of clear and translucent glass creating a permeable threshold that is neither fully inside nor outside.

A welcoming entrance to the building, with a series of wide, shallow concrete steps leading to a recessed entryway. The raw concrete structure is softened by an abundance of diverse green plants, creating a sense of arrival that balances urban resilience with natural serenity, consistent with Studio Arthur Casas's design.

Photography by Fran Parente.

The lower levels of this striking brutalist architecture, where massive concrete beams are softened by lush, cascading philodendron plants. The interplay of raw concrete, verdant foliage, and glimpses into the warm, illuminated interiors creates a compelling dialogue between nature and structured design, reflecting a biophilic approach.

Photography by Fran Parente.

An inviting long corridor features a striking contrast between raw concrete walls and light wood paneling, leading the eye towards a distant doorway. A sculptural dark wood table with a large monstera leaf adds an organic touch, while subtle lighting highlights the rich textures and contemporary design. — Photography by Fran Parente.

A dynamic perspective of this project's interior, where the rough texture of a concrete wall contrasts with the sleekness of a frosted glass partition and a rusted metal pivot door. The pathway of textured paving stones leads towards warm, light-filled rooms, embodying a refined industrial aesthetic with natural elements.

Photography by Fran Parente.

A long, artfully lit corridor, defined by a textured concrete wall on one side and a translucent glass wall on the other, creating a soft, diffused light. The interplay of materials and the subtle illumination emphasize the minimalist and serene atmosphere of the space.

Photography by Fran Parente.

A serene indoor swimming pool at Ibaté, featuring a raw concrete ceiling and large, frosted glass panels that diffuse natural light, creating a tranquil atmosphere. Submerged lighting accentuates the water's surface, while minimalist lounge chairs invite relaxation, embodying a Zen-like contemporary design.

Photography by Fran Parente.

The serene indoor pool area, showcasing a dramatic play of sunlight filtering through the space, creating captivating patterns on the raw concrete ceiling and water. The minimalist concrete columns and warm wooden cabinetry with curated ceramic vessels offer a spa-like, Zen-inspired atmosphere.

Photography by Fran Parente.

The interiors extend the architectural language with a restrained palette of concrete, wood, glass, and warm-toned metals. Here, the atmosphere is one of understated refinement: technical doors are disguised within seamless wood panels, while furniture by Arthur Casas appears alongside works by Jorge Zalszupin, Carlos Millan, and Marcelo Magalhães. Sunlight, filtered through water and glass, plays across concrete ceilings and cobblestone floors, imbuing the lobby and aforementioned pool with a contemplative calm.

For Arthur Casas, who has long moved fluidly between interior design, architecture, and product design, the Ibaté tower encapsulates the holistic ethos of his practice, including the importance of sustainability. The tower integrates solar panels for pool heating, water reuse systems, and electric vehicle infrastructure, underscoring Casas’ environmental commitment without diluting architectural clarity.

An intimate corner of the lounge, showcasing a built-in banquette with warm, indirect lighting and a unique, sculptural rattan armchair. Recessed shelving displays artisanal ceramic vessels, reinforcing the space's focus on handcrafted details and a serene, Japandi-inspired aesthetic. — Photography by Fran Parente.

A spacious, minimalist lounge area, bathed in soft, ambient light that highlights the pale wood paneling and natural-toned upholstery. Woven rattan chairs provide organic texture, while a large monstera leaf in a glass vase on a dark circular coffee table introduces a biophilic element. — Photography by Fran Parente.

A sophisticated, low-lit hallway, characterized by a play of light and shadow on raw concrete and warm wooden surfaces. A sculptural half-moon console table with a large green plant adds organic form, while subtle linear lighting guides the eye through the meticulously crafted space. — Photography by Fran Parente.

A captivating view of this project's integrated landscape and architecture, where broad concrete planes are softened by abundant tropical greenery overflowing from planters. A serene reflecting pool adds a tranquil element, while large glass panels offer glimpses into warm, inviting interior spaces, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor. — Photography by Fran Parente.

An evening view of the Ibaté building's lower levels, where the concrete structure and extensive greenery are artfully illuminated. Warm interior lights glow through large glass panes, creating a welcoming contrast with the deep shadows of the surrounding garden, highlighting the biophilic brutalist design by Studio Arthur Casas.

Photography by Fran Parente.

An illuminated evening view of the building's integrated landscape and brutalist architecture. The ground floor's warm interior glow contrasts with the cool tones of the concrete and the verdant, subtly lit garden, emphasizing the seamless transition between built form and natural environment.

Photography by Fran Parente.

In a city where towers often compete for dominance, this project distinguishes itself through restraint and coherence. Its contribution lies less in spectacle than in synthesis in what is a convergence of constructive rationality, spatial generosity, and contextual sensitivity. By masterfully interweaving structure, material, and landscape, Casas has given São Paulo not just another high-rise, but a living, evolving presence in permanent dialogue with the city that sustains it.