As a Brazilian-American Interior Designer and Mid-Century Modern furniture enthusiast, I would like to introduce you to a few pieces that I love that were created in Brazil.
I will start with Oscar Niemeyer, the Brazilian Architect who has been responsible for the design of a number of buildings in Brazil, including his contributions to Brasilia’s [Brazil’s Capital] cityscape.
Alta was the first piece of furniture designed by Oscar Niemeyer [1907-2012] and its design highly speaks to Niemeyer’s approach to Architecture. He is known for stripping off typical architectural features to their core elements, playing with monumental scale, and using curvilinear lines to take the observer’s eyes on a journey.
One could describe Alta’s design as very simple: a back and seat upholstered pad connected by a steel plate. However, the generous scale of Alta’s back and seat pad is connected by an even more distinctive gesture: a sweeping-curve-shaped steel plate that projects away from the chair’s main body and is mirrored on the front of the chair to create a base support. The design is further enriched by the contrast in materials’ tactility: the warm hand of leather versus the cold smoothness of steel. Moreover, the complementary ottoman replicates the lounge chair design and scale.
Jangada was designed by Jean Gillon [1919-2007], a Romanian architect who moved to Brazil in 1956. As a naturalized Brazilian Citizen, Jean Gillon’s showed how inspired he was by his new surroundings. Jangada is a typical Brazilian fishing sailboat and the design of this lounge chair reproduced the curves of its sail, the connection of its parts, and used a net as a supporting element.
Additionally, the design reinforces its Brazilian identity with the choice of materials: Jacaranda, a common Brazilian wood species, to build the frame; natural- fiber rope to build the pad support; and leather, easily resourced from the vast Brazilian livestock industry, to upholster the pads. For additional comfort, an ottoman, with similar design language, continues the curvature of the lounging chair.
Paulistano was designed by Paulo Mendes da Rocha [1928], a Brazilian architect that is known by the sculptural qualities of his designs. He has received a number of National and International awards, and among them is the 2006 Pritzker Architecture Prize.
Paulistano, the noun used to describe a native of Sao Paulo City [like myself], was commissioned for the Athletic Club of Sao Paulo lounge spaces; however, the simplicity of its design quickly made it popular.
The design is composed by two elements. First, the frame, which is shaped by a continuous 17-foot long piece of steel [alternatively stainless-steel] welded in a single location to close the loop. Secondly, the seat and back, which is shaped by a single sleeve, made in leather, that slides over the frame. The flexibility of both the frame and back/seat sleeve allows the human body to feel comfortably wrapped.
Don’t you feel like taking a break on one of these? I sure do.
-Andy
