Design Encounters: Rio de Janeiro

I knew from the beginning that Rio wouldn’t fit into a single post. This city carries too many layers, too many rhythms, too many quiet moments that deserve their own pause.

Being my hometown, Rio isn’t something I observe from a distance — it’s something I feel. And every time I return, new details reveal themselves. Corners I hadn’t noticed before. Experiences that stay with me longer than expected.

This series is my way of letting Rio unfold slowly — one encounter at a time. And I know there’s still so much more to come.

Parque Lage

Parque Lage is where architecture and nature exist in effortless balance. A historic structure embraced by tropical greenery, open courtyards, and soft transitions between inside and out.

But beyond the architecture, there’s an experience here that feels especially meaningful — breakfast in the courtyard. Sitting beneath the arches, surrounded by greenery, with filtered light and slow movement around you, feels less like dining out and more like inhabiting the space.

Nothing feels rushed. Conversations linger. Coffee tastes better. You’re not just visiting — you’re participating.

It’s a reminder that great design isn’t only about form — it’s about how a place invites you to stay.

Farm Rio

FARM feels like Rio translated into color, movement, and ease. Nothing is rigid. Prints flow, fabrics move with the body, and everything feels made to be lived in — not saved for later.

There’s a confidence in the way the brand embraces color and pattern. It’s joyful and expressive, without feeling forced. You don’t need to think too much — you just wear it and go.

Walking into a FARM store feels familiar, almost like stepping into a piece of the city itself. Light, music, and textures work together to create a relaxed, welcoming rhythm.

Polis Sucos

Polis feels like part of Rio’s daily rhythm. A place shaped by routine rather than novelty — familiar, reliable, and effortlessly present.

Açaí here is part of the city’s movement. Ordered quickly, eaten slowly. A pause between one place and the next. You come in, watch people pass by, notice the pace of the street, and let the day continue around you.

It’s not about atmosphere or intention — it’s about habit. About how small rituals shape the way a city is lived. Sitting there, açaí in hand, you’re not observing Rio. You’re inside it.

---

Design isn’t always something we notice — sometimes it’s something we live.

In Rio, it exists in pauses, routines, and moments that unfold naturally, without asking to be defined.