Design Encounters: Rio de Janeiro

Some places stay with you long after you leave — not just for their beauty, but for how they make you feel. I’m starting this series in my hometown, Rio de Janeiro — a place that shaped my way of seeing.

This won’t be a single post. There’s too much to tell — the cafés, the corners, the views, and the quiet moments that capture what I love most about Rio.

The Real Gabinete Português de Leitura

There’s a kind of magic in the Real Gabinete Português de Leitura — a stillness that feels almost sacred. The scent of old books, the filtered light, the carved details that seem to hold centuries of stories. It’s a place that reminds me how design can transcend time — how beauty endures through patience and craft.

Musa — São Conrado

A kiosk by the sea — simple and honest — where design is made of breeze, sunlight, conversation, and good food. Musa captures what I love most about Rio: authenticity without effort. It’s not about perfection — it’s about presence.

It’s where you realize that good design can be as light as the sound of the waves beside your table.

Balaco

In a city defined by movement, Balaco feels like the wardrobe version of Rio itself — fluid, joyful, and grounded in craftsmanship. Each piece has ease and personality, the kind of effortless beauty that comes from confidence, not excess.

It’s fashion with soul — and a quiet lesson in how good design always begins with authenticity.

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Design isn’t limited to interiors or objects — it’s in the air, the light, and the way we experience the world around us.

For me, Rio will always be the reminder that the best encounters with design are the ones that simply happen.