Modern building with wooden slat fencing, trees with lush foliage in front, and a large decorative metal circle at the entrance, all illuminated by warm sunlight against a light blue sky.
Elegant indoor restaurant decorated with string lights, candles, a large tree with lights, wooden tables and chairs, brick walls, and a balcony with potted plants.

SANSÔ

Atibaia, SP - Brasil

2026

architectural project

partnership with: Studio Zanskar

status: permit approval

Sansô Atibaia emerged from a collaboration between Lens Studio and Zanskar Studio to envision the venue’s second location — and the first expansion of an established event destination in the countryside of São Paulo. Rooted in a shared appreciation for nature, materiality, and meaningful experiences, the project brought Lens Studio into the process from early concept development through architectural design.

A spacious indoor restaurant with open sides, round wooden tables with chairs, a green vertical garden wall, a bar with decorative ironwork, and ceiling at an angle with metal beams and glass panels.

At its core was a compelling duality: creating a retreat for celebration within the city. Connected to the urban fabric and easily accessible, yet distinctly removed from its pace, Sansô was conceived as a sanctuary — a place where crossing the threshold marks a transition into a quieter, more tactile and nature-driven atmosphere.

Indoor corridor with brick walls, wooden ceiling, and modern sinks along one side, decorated with large green tropical plants and soft lighting.

design challenges

The site itself presented both constraints and opportunities. Spanning four adjacent lots, the design responded to setbacks, buildable-area limitations, and permitting requirements while preserving the flexibility essential to an event venue.

Top-down view of a large indoor lounge and bar area filled with people. The space features seating arrangements, greenery, a stage with musical instruments, a spiral staircase, and restroom facilities.
A detailed top-down floor plan of a banquet hall and outdoor event space. The floor plan includes areas with round tables, a stage, a bar, restrooms, and a lush garden with seating.

At the heart of the project is a carefully considered void: a generous, adaptable space designed to accommodate different scales, configurations, and occasions. Rather than prescribing a single way of inhabiting it, the architecture creates a framework in which proportion, circulation, light, landscape, and infrastructure allow each event to transform the space in its own way.

Indoor event space with rows of wooden chairs arranged for a ceremony, surrounded by lush green plants and trees, with a partially open ceiling allowing natural light to fill the room.
A 3D rendering of a restaurant layout with dining area, outdoor patio, and garden space.
3D floor plan of a large outdoor event space with seating areas, a stage, and a bar.

Rather than imposing architecture upon the site, we sought to listen to what the land was already offering — preserving its existing nature and allowing the built form to settle around it. Gardens, abundant daylight, and a palette of timber, earth, brick, and weathered steel create a warm, tactile atmosphere, while openings and pathways keep the landscape in constant dialogue with the architecture. Sansô ultimately becomes a place where celebration and contemplation coexist — a refuge where city, architecture, and nature meet.

Sunlit indoor restaurant with wooden tables and chairs, lush greenery, brick walls, large arched windows, and a spiral staircase.
A 3D floor plan of a small living space with a bathroom, a sitting area, and a bedroom, featuring furniture, plants, and decor.
A 3D layout of a small apartment with a living area, kitchen, and a spiral staircase leading to a loft or upper level.
3D rendering of a commercial kitchen with stainless steel appliances, countertops, and cabinets.
An isometric view of a small conference room with a rectangular wooden table, six chairs, a wood-paneled wall with three windows, a corner with potted plant, and pendant lighting.