Brasitalia Design
Brazilian style is unmistakable - the sweeping curves of Oscar Niemeyer's buildings, the exuberant beach life of Rio de Janeiro and the riotous colours of the Carnival are some of the images that immediately come to mind. The brief for the architects at RM\Architecture is to capture the essence of this style in a 115 square metre apartment in Rome, a challenge the team pulled off with the grace of a capoeira master.
The colours and textures in the apartment are carefully selected to evoke the Brazilian spirit. Olive green and natural wood, not to mention the giant green plants dotted throughout the apartment, are reminders of the importance of nature, especially rainforests. The sandy-coloured floor in the main living area is offset by a sea-blue rug and a retro-glamorous sofa which could have come straight out of a 1970s Rio disco.
The kitchen is saturated with colours. The terracotta red worktop and backsplash, natural wood cabinets, olive green table, orange chairs and monochrome gravel-like floor work harmoniously together to create a rich yet calming atmosphere.
Elsewhere in the apartment there are tables made of curvaceous concrete, a nod perhaps to the architecture of Niemeyer; whilst the wavy black and white mosaic floor in the bathroom takes you straight to the promenade of the Copacabana beach.
This sophisticated and evocative apartment might be in the centre of Rome, but its spirit is most definitely partying somewhere in Rio.
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Product Inspiration
Go for strong colours and distinctive designs to create an evocative atmosphere. Try the My Beautiful Backside sofa from Moroso, the Havana armchair from Dooq and the Up in the Air side table from Viccarbe.
Make a design statement with lights that showcase multiple materials and colours, such as the Pyppe floor light from Utu, the PostKrisi suspension light from Catellani & Smith and the Skyline table light from LZF.
Choose accessories with organic, sculptural shapes, such as the Bourgeon vase from 101 Copenhagen, the Casiopea wall mirror from Agrippa and the Butterfly coatrack from Ghidini 1961.
