An interview with architect Ruy Ohtake

last updated 12 September 2022

Creating some of Brazil's most recognizable and arguably most colourful buildings - like the striking Thomie Ohtake Cultural Institute designed for his artist mother and the visually arresting Hotel Unique - Sao Paulo-based Ruy Ohtake is one of the country's most well-known and respected contemporary architects.

Wallpaper* has produced a special issue on Brazil as we feel that this is a good time for the country and its architecture. Do you agree?

There is a cultural institute, which showcases just that, the Institute Thomie Ohtake. It has just held a very important exhibition about contemporary Finnish design. The space itself was opened in 2004 and it has amazing exhibitions and initiatives which showcase art, architecture and photography from Brazil and abroad.

Is there a lot of new and interesting architecture in Brazil at the moment?

Yes, and I am trying to do Brazilian contemporary architecture myself. In all my works in the past ten to 15 years, the challenge is to create something that is truly contemporary.

What are the main elements of your architecture?

It is the relationship with the city. Architecture is part of the history of the city and as such any contemporary architectural intervention and expression can be crucial to the city's development. Architecture must provoke surprise and emotion. The life inside the architecture must also be agreeable and not forced.

You do a lot of colour in your work. How important is it for you?

Colour is life. Through colour, you can express yourself and can create a very contemporary idiom.

Do you see architecture as an art and the building as a painting?

Absolutely. Architecture is definitely one of the arts and probably the most difficult one, because people actually work and live in it. The presence of architecture as art in the city is very important.

Do you feel your architecture could be described as Brazilian? How does it connect with the country and the culture?

I design Brazilian architecture and work with Brazilian culture as these are my roots. But I also feel that architectural expression must be... well, I don't like the word international, but it must be for everybody. It needs to be global.

What are your influences?

As a student, my influences were Oscar Niemeyer and Artigas, who did the architecture school of São Paulo where I studied. In addition, I like very much Frank Gehry. He was able to transform the city of Bilbao with just one piece of architecture. It was very powerful. Also I follow the work of Renzo Piano, Thom Mayne, as well as many British architects.

Architect: Marcos Acayaba

Project: Acayaba House, 1997
Read our Q&A with Marcos Acayaba

Project: Baeta House, 1993

Project: Olga House, 1990

Project: Pindorama Pavilion, 1985

Project: Terpins House, 1992

Architect: Angelo Bucci of SPBR

Project: Apartment building in Lugano
Read our Q&A with Angelo Bucci

Project: Atilba Leonel School in Sao Paulo

Project: House in Santa Teresa

Project: Housing complex in Algarve

Project: Mediatheque PUC in Rio de Janeiro

Architect: Bernardes + Jacobsen

Project: Guaruja House, 2007
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Project: JH House
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Project: JZ House
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Architect: Marcelo Ferraz of Brasil Arquitetura

Project: Bread Museum
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Marcelo Ferraz

Project: Igatu Museum

Project: ISA
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Project: Conjunto KKKK
Photography: Nelson Kon

Project: Rodin Museum
Photography: Nelson Kon

Architect: Arthur Casas

Project: PK Iporanga residence

Project: KAA restaurant, Sao Paulo

Project: MP House

Project: Avenue Atlantica apartment, 2009

Project: AC Iporanga, 2005

Architect: Marcio Kogan

Project: Bahia
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Marcio Kogan

Project: Micasa Volume B
Photography: Nelson Kon

Project: Osler House
Photography: Pedro Vannucchi

Project: Paraty House
Photography: Nelson Kon

Project: Prime Time

Architect: Eduardo Longo

Project: Casa GL

Project: Casa CMC

Project: Casa CAL

Project: Casa CEG

Project: Apartamento MG

Project: Proposta Para O Elevado Costa E Silva

Project: Proposta Praca Roosevelt - Praia Roosevelt

Project: Apartamento do Bola

Project: Casa Bola Galia

Project: Casa CMC

Architect: Fernando de Mello Franco of MMBB

Project: Boaaava residence
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Fernando de Mello Franco

Project: Antonico Creek reurbanisation - Plan of the typical sector

Project: Headquarters of Corporacion Andina de Fomento, Caracas, Venezuela
Photography: Nelson Kon

Project: Music centre at Campos do Jordao
Photography: Nelson Kon

Project: Vila Roma residence
Photography: Nelson Kon

Architect: Ruy Ohtake

Project: FCC Biulding, 2005
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Ruy Ohtake

Project: FCC Building, 2005
Photography: Nelson Kon

Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Project: Op Art Flagship Store, 2009
Photography: ROAU Archive

Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Project: Zuleika Halpern Residence, 2005
Photography: Turca Reines

Project: Santa Catarina Building, 2003
Photography: Daniel Ducci, Carlos Gueller

Architect: Isay Weinfeld Architects

Project: Havaianas
Photography: Nelson Kon

Project: Fasano Las Piedras Hotel
Photography: Luiza Sigulem

Project: Midrash
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).