Brazilian design is often lauded for its use of unique materials, embrace of traditional craftsmanship and ecologically-minded take on furniture and architecture. So why would a Brazilian designer give that up? The acclaimed architect/designer Arthur Casas has gone against the norm to craft a completely new line of furniture entirely in America for the first time.
Unveiled today at Espasso, the definitive destination for Brazilian design in New York, ‘Arthur Casas: Made In America’ presents a range of never-before-seen designs by Casas in an immersive installation setting. Completely transforming the Tribeca gallery’s first floor, the exhibition, which was also conceived by Casas, and features audio and video projections interspersed throughout, presents five new pieces that have been made in the USA; Brooklyn, to be specific.
‘We decided to explore North American woods because they are best-suited to the local climate,’ explains Casas, of this decision. ‘The sustainable part of this is very important too. We are using local materials and local craftsmanship.’
The five designs on display include the 'Rectangular' coffee table, made from stained American walnut and blackened steel; a 'Square' coffee table which pairs travertine with blackened steel; a stained American walnut bookcase called 'Fibonacci'; the 'Copacabana' sideboard; and the 'Tiles' coffee table, crafted from limestone tiles and steel.
‘These designs are the evolution of what we always have done. We always continuing [in] the direction we think is right,’ Casas says. ‘There are many different inspirations here – the 'Tiles' table is inspired by a very common technique used in Brazil, while the 'Copacabana' sideboard was inspired by the famous Rio beach and Roberto Burle Marx’s work. The organic shapes are also recurrent to our work.’
While the designs may be considered classically Casas, what will surprise visitors is the multi-sensory quality of the exhibition. Aided by sounds and visuals that mimic the feeling of being in nature (which in turn charcterises the relationship between Casas, his work and his surrounding environment), the exhibition at Espasso even smells like nature.
Casas explains, ‘Being around nature is not only about vision and noise. Nature affects you in almost all of the senses and smell is one big part of it. The fragrance we created with Natura Brasil is supposed to capture the essence of wood when it is wet after the rain fell. Combining audio, sound and smell we tried to mimic the felling of being in nature, while inside Espasso.’
Casas has opted to have the new designs handcrafted in America – in Brooklyn, to be precise. 'We decided to not bring Brazilian wood to North America because it doesn't behave well in this climate,’ he explains. Pictured: a glimpse of the 'Tiles' coffee table (left) and 'Fibonacci' bookshelf (right)
'These designs are the evolution of what we always have done,' Casas says. Pictured: the 'Rectangular' coffee table, made from stained American walnut and blackened steel
‘The sustainable part of this is very important too. We are using local materials, local craftsmanship and not wasting natural resources, normally associated with shipping a piece around the globe,’ he continues
There is a multi-sensory quality to the exhibition. Aided by sounds and visuals that mimic the feeling of being in nature, the show even smells like nature, thanks to a special fragrance created by Casas and Natura Brasil
INFORMATION
’Arthur Casas: Made in America’ is on view until 27 March. For more information, visit Espasso’s website
ADDRESS
Espasso
38 N Moore Street
New York, NY 10013
-
‘Just beneath the surface there’s another world’: How David Lynch used hair and make-up to create his singular universeFrom Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive to Twin Peaks, David Lynch used hair and make-up in his films as a narrative device, writes Laura Havlin
-
Burns Night 2025: where to celebrate in LondonIt is time to raise a wee dram to Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns on Burns Night (25 January). Here is our pick of places to enjoy an evening of generous speechmaking, toasting, and drinking around London
-
Tag Heuer unveils sporty new collections at LVMH Watch Week 2025Tag Heuer has announced a series of new watches at LVMH Watch Week, including Formula 1 and Carrera editions
-
Design Miami 2024 is alive with possibility: here are 14 things to seeDesign Miami 2024 opens 4-8 December – let Wallpaper* guide you to the highlights, from dazzling installations to plump sofas and anthropomorphic sculptures
-
Nendo’s collaborations with Kyoto artisans go on view in New York‘Nendo sees Kyoto’ is on view at Friedman Benda (until 15 October 2022), showcasing the design studio's collaboration with six artisans specialised in ancient Japanese crafts
-
Italian craftsmanship comes to Los Angeles in this eclectic Venice Canals apartmentBoffi Los Angeles celebrates a juxtaposition of texture throughout a waterside bolthole
-
Design Miami/Basel 2022 explores the Golden AgeDesign Miami/Basel 2022, led by curatorial director Maria Cristina Didero, offers a positive spin after the unprecedented times of the pandemic, and looks at the history and spirit of design
-
Kvadrat’s flagship New York showrooms encompass colourful design codesIndustrial designer Jonathan Olivares and architect Vincent Van Duysen have worked with Danish textile brand Kvadrat on the vast new space, also featuring furniture by Moroso
-
What to see at New York Design Week 2022Discover Wallpaper’s highlights from New York Design Week 2022 (10 – 20 May 2022): the fairs, exhibitions and design openings to discover
-
Colour defines LA ceramics studio and showroom of Bari ZipersteinStep inside the multifunctional ceramics studio, office and showroom of designer and artist Bari Ziperstein, designed by local firm Foss Hildreth
-
Design for Ukraine: Bocci and Design Miami join forces to raise fundsThe online sale of iconic Bocci pieces will benefit GlobalGiving’s Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, providing urgently needed humanitarian aid
