10 Things to Do for Your Design Trip in Brazil

6/19/2017

Brasilia, the captial of this South American nation, is a planned city, carved out of the highlands in 1960 as a neutral site for the centre of government. The brainchild of genius arhcitects Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia personifies the nation: Modern, fantastic and future forward. Here are our picks for exploring how that design ethos is expressed throughout Brazil.

1. Where to Instagram
The Escadaria Selarón is a landmark in Rio de Janeiro. The vivid mosaic stairs were made by the Chilean-born artist Jorge Selarón as a tribute to Brazilians. More than 2,000 pieces of mirror, ceramics and tiles adorn the 215 steps. Now a landmark, the stairs are nestled between the bohemian neighborhoods of Lapa and Santa Teresa.

2. For the Art Enthusiast
Museu de Arte do Rio (MAM) at Flamengo Park in Rio de Janeiro, permanently holds more than 6,500 pieces of Brazilian and foreign artwork. From sculptures to paintings, the museum is an architectural landmark for its dramatic facade, built by Affonso Eduardo Reidy and Roberto Burle Marx in 1955. MAM also has a modernist garden, a second landmark of the museum, which was part of Marx’s urban planning project, Flamengo Park. mamrio.org.br

3. For Library Aficianado
The Royal Portuguese Reading Room has been home to around 400,000 titles since 1887. Filled with Portuguese texts,
this jaw-droppingly beautiful library is known for ia Neo-Manueline deisgn that was popular in 19th century. While
the walls are lined with a rising strata of stacks, there’s an elegant grandeur in the library, which is full of Portuguese
rare books. There’s an additional visual delight in the building’s ornamental doors, beautiful stained-glass windows and decorative arches. realgabinete.com.br

4. Influential Architect
Oscar Niemeyer remains the man. Designing approximately 600 buildings in Brazil, Niemeyer worked untill he died at the age of 104. His designs are very distinctive with curvaceous shapes, noted as Brazil’s signature modern touch. His works includes The National
Congress and Palace of Dawn.

5. Peek at the Future
Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro is all about the future and sustainability. Designed by the Catalan architect Santiago Calatrava, the museum is almost entirely digital, focusing on climate change and sustainability. The building itself has made headlines around the world for its sci-fi looking appearance. museudoamanha.org.br

6. Surreal Furniture
The São Paulo-based design duo of Humberto Campana and Fernando Campana have teamed up since 1983, making remarkable furniture from ordinary materials such as scrap and waste products. We love their Pirarucu armchair, Bolotas sofas and latest Brazilian Agata tiles collection, which comes in hues of green, yellow, red and blue. campanas.com.br

7. Greenery and Art
The Inhotim is home to 28 percent of the known botanical families on the planet in a building that evokes the contemporary urban museum. The experience involves a spatial relationship between art and nature where visitors can enjoy local and international artworks, such as Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama to American contemporary artist Paul McCarthy, while strolling down the forest landscapes, lakes, and even mountains and valleys which include around 5,000 botanical species. inhotim.org.br

8. Where to Stay
Casa Marques is the new bohemian artsy hotel in the Santa Teresa neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. The designer transformed a late colonial house into a contemporary-style hotel that pays homage to artists and designers, such as furniture maven Sergio Rodrigues, as well as graffiti artwork by local graphic designer Bragga. casamarquesrio.com

9. Where to Sip
Aprazível is the go-to bar to sip “caipibella” while enjoying a buenavista. The bar has vast options of caipirinhas, offering a vast concoction of starfruit, passion fruit, rosemary, and ginger sugar, and is praised for its philosophy for sustainable practices. Meaning “pleasant” in Portuguese, Aprazível has an iconic breathtaking view of Rio, located perched on a cliff. aprazivel.com.br

10. Where to Dine
Mocotó by Brazilian chef Rodrigo Oliveira is one of the best Latin America restaurants. Serving authentic Brazilian cuisine from the north, Oliveira aims to rediscover old forgotten recipes. Located in São Paulo, the restaurant’s specialty is their legenday mocotó — a broth of stewed cow’s foot. mocoto.com.br

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Banyubening Prieta
Author
Banyu has been a contributing writer to The Jakarta Post, Sorge Magazine and Metronome Indonesia after graduating from Parahyangan Catholic University with a degree in international relations. She is the owner and co-founder of the Jakarta-based organic restaurant and healthy catering business Burgreens and the co-founder of Suazad Media.