Interviews with Brazil’s leading architects

The Brazilian architectural landscape may seem newly formed compared to that of Europe or Asia, but this doesn't stop it from being as diverse and multi-levelled as it is culturally rich. Combining the syntax of the different nationalities swept in by the tide of immigration over the past two centuries, the architectural language is intricate and incorporates everything from traditional local building techniques to colonial architecture and the legacy of the International Style.

Indeed, fuelled by that hedonistic combination of climate and culture, a more organic Brazilian-styled modernism has emerged in which the new has been embraced without reservation, while one eye is kept firmly cocked at the country's modernist stockpile.

Fittingly, for Wallpaper's 'Born in Brazil' issue, we assembled a panel drawn from the country's finest living architects to discuss the common thread of contemporary Brazilian architecture. Here, we show you some of their most seminal work, plus chat to several members of the panel about the changing architectural landscape of this extraordinary country.

Acayaba House, 1997

(Image credit: TBC)

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

Baeta House, 1993

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Marcos Acayaba
Project: Baeta House, 1993

Olga House, 1990

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Marcos Acayaba
Project: Olga House, 1990

Pindorama Pavilion, 1985

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Marcos Acayaba
Project: Pindorama Pavilion, 1985

Terpins House, 1992

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Marcos Acayaba
Project: Terpins House, 1992

Apartment building in Lugano

(Image credit: TBC)

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

Atilba Leonel School in Sao Paulo

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Angelo Bucci of SPBR
Project: Atilba Leonel School in Sao Paulo

House in Santa Teresa

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Angelo Bucci of SPBR
Project: House in Santa Teresa

Housing complex in Algarve

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Angelo Bucci of SPBR
Project: Housing complex in Algarve

Mediatheque PUC in Rio de Janeiro

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Angelo Bucci of SPBR
Project: Mediatheque PUC in Rio de Janeiro

Guaruja House, 2007

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Architect: Bernardes + Jacobsen
Project: Guaruja House, 2007
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Guaruja House, 2007

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Architect: Bernardes + Jacobsen
Project: Guaruja House, 2007
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

JH House

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Architect: Bernardes + Jacobsen
Project: JH House
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

JZ House

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Architect: Bernardes + Jacobsen
Project: JZ House
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

JZ House

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Architect: Bernardes + Jacobsen
Project: JZ House
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Bread Museum

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Architect: Marcelo Ferraz of Brasil Arquitetura
Project: Bread Museum
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Marcelo Ferraz

Igatu Museum

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Marcelo Ferraz of Brasil Arquitetura
Project: Igatu Museum

ISA

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Architect: Marcelo Ferraz of Brasil Arquitetura
Project: ISA
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Conjunto KKKK

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Architect: Marcelo Ferraz of Brasil Arquitetura
Project: Conjunto KKKK
Photography: Nelson Kon

Marcelo Ferraz of Brasil Arquitetura

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Architect: Marcelo Ferraz of Brasil Arquitetura
Project: Rodin Museum
Photography: Nelson Kon

PK Iporanga residence

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Arthur Casas
Project: PK Iporanga residence

KAA restaurant, Sao Paulo

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Arthur Casas
Project: KAA restaurant, Sao Paulo

MP House

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Arthur Casas
Project: MP House

Avenue Atlantica apartment, 2009

(Image credit: TBC)

AC Iporanga, 2005

(Image credit: TBC)

Bahia

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

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

Micasa Volume B

(Image credit: Marcio Kogan)

Architect: Marcio Kogan
Project: Micasa Volume B
Photography: Nelson Kon

Osler House

(Image credit: Pedro Vannucchi)

Architect: Marcio Kogan
Project: Osler House
Photography: Pedro Vannucchi

Paraty House

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Architect: Marcio Kogan
Project: Paraty House
Photography: Nelson Kon

Prime Time

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Marcio Kogan
Project: Prime Time

Casa GL

(Image credit: TBC)

Casa GL

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Eduardo Longo
Project: Casa GL

Casa CMC

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Eduardo Longo
Project: Casa CMC

Casa CAL

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Eduardo Longo
Project: Casa CAL

Casa CEG

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Eduardo Longo
Project: Casa CEG

Apartamento MG

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Eduardo Longo
Project: Apartamento MG

Apartamento MG

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Eduardo Longo
Project: Apartamento MG

Proposta Para O Elevado Costa E Silva

(Image credit: TBC)

Proposta Para O Elevado Costa E Silva

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Eduardo Longo
Project: Proposta Para O Elevado Costa E Silva

Proposta Praca Roosevelt - Praia Roosevelt

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Eduardo Longo
Project: Proposta Praca Roosevelt - Praia Roosevelt

Apartamento do Bola

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Eduardo Longo
Project: Apartamento do Bola

Casa Bola Galia

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Eduardo Longo
Project: Casa Bola Galia

Casa Bola Galia

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Eduardo Longo
Project: Casa Bola Galia

Casa Bola Galia

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Eduardo Longo
Project: Casa Bola Galia

Casa CMC

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Eduardo Longo
Project: Casa CMC

Boaaava residence

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

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

Antonico Creek reurbanisation - Plan of the typical sector

(Image credit: TBC)

Architect: Fernando de Mello Franco of MMBB
Project: Antonico Creek reurbanisation - Plan of the typical sector

Headquarters of Corporacion Andina de Fomento, Caracas, Venezuela

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Architect: Fernando de Mello Franco of MMBB
Project: Headquarters of Corporacion Andina de Fomento, Caracas, Venezuela
Photography: Nelson Kon

Music centre at Campos do Jordao

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Music centre at Campos do Jordao

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Architect: Fernando de Mello Franco of MMBB
Project: Music centre at Campos do Jordao
Photography: Nelson Kon

Vila Roma residence

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

FCC Biulding, 2005

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

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

FCC Building, 2005

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: FCC Building, 2005
Photography: Nelson Kon

Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Op Art Flagship Store, 2009

(Image credit: ROAU Archive)

Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: Op Art Flagship Store, 2009
Photography: ROAU Archive

Op Art Flagship Store, 2009

(Image credit: ROAU Archive)

Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: Op Art Flagship Store, 2009
Photography: ROAU Archive

Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Zuleika Halpern Residence, 2005

(Image credit: Turca Reines)

Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: Zuleika Halpern Residence, 2005
Photography: Turca Reines

Zuleika Halpern Residence, 2005

(Image credit: Turca Reines)

Santa Catarina Building, 2003

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci, Carlos Gueller)

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

Santa Catarina Building, 2003

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci, Carlos Gueller)

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

Havaianas

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Architect: Isay Weinfeld Architects
Project: Havaianas
Photography: Nelson Kon

Fasano Las Piedras Hotel

(Image credit: Luiza Sigulem)

Architect: Isay Weinfeld Architects
Project: Fasano Las Piedras Hotel
Photography: Luiza Sigulem

Midrash

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Havaianas

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Architect: Isay Weinfeld Architects
Project: Havaianas
Photography: Nelson Kon

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).