A Former Townhouse Transformed into a Creative Industrial Kitchen

Gio Cozinha: A Creative Kitchen Shaped by Light, Architecture and Design Located in Pinheiros, São Paulo, Gio Cozinha is a creative culinary studio designed by NMDM.ARQ, led by architect Nádia Manssur. Completed in 2025, the project transforms a former townhouse into a hybrid space that brings together a professional kitchen, creative production, food and set design, and an environment for meetings and events. Conceived for chef Giovanna Grossi, Gio Cozinha approaches food as a form of artistic expression and a powerful medium for storytelling. The studio develops sensory experiences for brands, combining gastronomy, design and creative collaboration. Translating this multidisciplinary identity into architecture required a space capable of accommodating the technical demands of a professional kitchen while remaining open, flexible and visually expressive. The transformation began with a significant reorganization of the existing building. Originally characterized by narrow spaces, low ceilings and structural masonry walls, the townhouse underwent extensive interventions to establish a more continuous spatial experience. Internal partitions were removed, steel reinforcements were introduced, and the original roof was replaced with a new structure that increases the ceiling height and incorporates a generous linear skylight. Natural light becomes one of the project's defining architectural elements. A large opening in the upper floor allows daylight from the skylight to reach the lower level, creating a visual connection between the two stories and transforming the perception of depth, height and openness throughout the building. A restrained material palette reinforces this spatial clarity. Off-white polished concrete extends across floors, walls and ceilings, establishing a continuous architectural surface against which the stainless steel equipment and furniture of the industrial kitchen become prominent. The contrast between these materials brings together the precision of a professional workspace and the expressive character of a creative studio. Circular geometries introduce a sculptural dimension to the project. A distinctive stainless steel entrance door, framed by rounded edges, establishes the architectural identity of Gio Cozinha from the street. Inside, cylindrical forms and curved elements create a visual counterpoint to the building's linear organization, while generous openings and cross ventilation strengthen its connection with the surrounding neighborhood. Rather than simply accommodating a new program within an existing structure, the project reinterprets the relationship between architecture, gastronomy and creative production, transforming an ordinary townhouse into a space designed for experimentation, collaboration and shared experiences. In this film, we take a poetic and cinematic journey through Gio Cozinha, accompanied by an in-depth interview with architect Nádia Manssur. Moving through its sculptural entrance, luminous interiors, industrial kitchen and interconnected spaces, the film explores the architectural transformation of the original townhouse. Through Manssur's perspective, we discover the design decisions behind the project, from the structural interventions and the introduction of natural light to the material palette, circular geometries and the relationship between functionality and creative expression. Presented by Mekal https://www.mekal.com.br Project: Gio Cozinha Architecture: NMDM Arq - Nádia Manssur Film by: Architecture Hunter Location: São Paulo, Brazil Cover Image: Maíra Acayaba Get to know other recent videos: Interviews with the Creators: Studio MK27’s Biribinhas Private Beach House:    • Interviews with the Creators: Studio MK27’...   Gem of Private Brazilian Beaches: Studio MK27's Biribinhas Coastal Masterpiece:    • Gem of Private Brazilian Beaches: Studio M...   Interview: The Vision of Jacobsen Inside a Suspended Beach House in Rio de Janeiro:    • Interview: The Vision of Jacobsen Inside a...   Hunt, Watch & Read: https://architecturehunter.com/ Instagram:   / architecture_hunter  . LinkedIn:   / architecturehunter   TikTok:   / archihunters   Pinterest:   / architecture_hunter   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/31rpvbv... Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://architecturehunter.com/newsle...