Friday, October 13, 2023
Brazilian modernism is finding its way into living rooms, bedrooms and so on, and just like many other styles, Brazilian modern has complex political and cultural roots. Under the military dictatorship that ran from the 1960s to the 1980s, exporting furniture abroad was one of various prohibited activities. This meant that South American designs never achieved popularity outside Brazil. Of course, there were exceptions, including Oscar Niemeyer, Sergio Rodrigues and Lina Bo Bardi, to name just a few. But things are shifting in the world of interior design, and the borders are being redrawn. Brazilian modernism is on the rise – for very good reasons.
The main thing that mid-century style and Brazilian modernism have in common is their design language: clean lines – straight or slightly curved – as well as elegant construction remain rooted in Brazilian designs to this day. But it is above all the materials that make Brazilian modernism a special interior design trend. Chairs incorporating wickerwork, armchairs with generously upholstered leather seats and tables sculpted from solid wood are characteristic of Brazilian furniture design.
The coffee table designed by Jorge Zalszupin in the early 1960s is a key piece in the history of design. Its dark wood and geometric shape clearly embody the trend’s roots. The beauty of native varieties of timber like rosewood and mahogany and the high quality to which they are worked are distinctive features of Brazilian furniture. When combined with pale shades of cream, an exciting contrast between light and dark is created, projecting both visual tension and warmth at the same time.
The pared-down range of colours used in Brazilian modernism expresses the restrained approach that lies at the heart of the interior design trend. Subtle browns, creams and powdery shades give sofas, armchairs and other furniture a high-quality look. Young designers are widening the colour palette to include bright but very discreetly placed splashes of colour in emerald green, mustard yellow or petrol blue. Even today, many examples of Brazilian furniture design are painstakingly handcrafted.
Source: imm cologne
Tags: brazil, coffee table, FORMOBILE, furniture design, south america, woodworking USA
