The Espasso Apartment

The Espasso Apartment is an immersive residential installation in Fort Greene’s new architectural landmark, 144 Vanderbilt. Set within a 1,400-square-foot duplex, the apartment presents a curated selection of Espasso’s historic Brazilian design, juxtaposed with the sculptural heft of the building’s architecture, creating a spatial dialogue between material warmth and architectural rawness.

Conceived as a fully realized interior, the apartment unfolds as a series of distinct yet interconnected rooms, including a living room, library, dining room, listening lounge, bedroom, study, and game room. Each space is approached as its own environment, contributing to a larger composition that feels both intentional and lived-in.

Developed by Tankhouse and designed by Jinhee Park and Florian Idenburg of SO–IL,144 Vanderbilt provides a compelling architectural framework. Its concrete surfaces and curiously soft brutalism evoke the environments in which Brazilian modern design first emerged - spaces where functionalism was combined with organic forms and natural surroundings. 

Within this context, Office of Tangible Space approaches Espasso’s collection as both an archive and a living resource, translating Brazil’s deep design history into a spatial experience grounded in tactility, craft, and human scale. The realized apartment blurs the boundary between exhibition and residence, offering an experience that is as much about atmosphere and inhabitation as it is about individual works.

The aim was to create a home that feels inviting, expressive, and culturally layered - one informed by an eclectic sensibility shaped by art, music, and design. Historic pieces serve as focal points within each room, shaping movement and experience throughout the apartment. A triangular dining table by Joaquim Tenreiro anchors the dining room, while the Tonico lounge chair by Sergio Rodrigues sets the tone for the listening lounge. Additional works include designs by Claudia Moreira Salles, Ronald Sasson, Arthur Casas, Oscar Niemeyer, Jorge Zalszupin, Etel Carmona, Carlos Motta, Dado Castello Branco, Fernando Mendes, and Giuseppe Scapinelli.

The resulting interior palette is defined by earthy, warm, and textural elements - dark woods, limewash finishes, and layered textiles. Additional contemporary contributions complement the installation, including lighting by Kawabi, fiber work by Kat Howard, and sculptural pieces by Peter St. Lawrence, along with select works by Office of Tangible Space, including a painting, birdhouse, and sculptural lamp.