The environments we design and build must be living, welcoming, empathic, flexible, full of different possibilities of interaction that can, over time, transform the lives of the individuals who occupy them.
– Artur Casas

Studio Arthur Casas have designed a tower complex in Sao Paulo, Brazil, that combines apartments, a hotel and restaurants in a design described as "discreet, timeless and stately".

Praça Henrique Monteiro will cover an area of 3,000sq m (32,300sq ft) with three street-facing elevations.

This will allow the apartments, hotel and restaurants to operate independently, despite being part of the same development and sharing some elements.

They will be connected by a square (the "praça" that gives the development its name), which offers shared space and interconnectedness, but also helps to facilitate the functional separation.

At street level, there will be a landscape space with greenery and seating that can be used as a place to pause by building occupants or by passersby.

Here, the base of the tower will house restaurants and a boulangerie, while the shared square will be a level up and there will be space for parking in a below-ground level.

The square will feature places to sit, lawn and paving areas, open and covered areas, trees and plants.

The tower itself will rise 41 levels to a height of 131m (430ft) and, as well as the apartments and the hotel with separate entrances, will accommodate a fitness centre, a pool and a children's space.

Its slender design is distinguished by a mix of understated and natural elements, with pale, soft tones.

Circular pillars around the exterior of the tower are clad in light wood, brise soleils in grey aluminium and floors in Portuguese stone.

Floor-to-ceiling windows for hotel roo s and apartments are set back from glazed balconies.

Artur Casas, founding architect of Studio Arthur Casas, told CLAD: "The environments we design and build should not follow fads, trends, styles or seek only the dramatic and spectacular gesture.

"On the contrary, they must be living, welcoming, empathic, flexible, full of different possibilities of interaction that can, over time, transform the lives of the individuals who occupy them."

Praça Henrique Monteiro is due to be complete in 2021.