| Paulo Mendes da Rocha Casa Gerassi х WE Gallery WE Gallery made its first special photo shoot of iconic items from its collection at the famous Casa Gerassi in São Paulo. It was a part of an annual project exploring the interaction between collectible design and architecture |
In 1964, Pulitzer Prize winner Paulo Mendes da Rocha built his first prefabricated building, which was his own home. Thirty-five years later, he used this experience to design the house of engineer Antonio Gerassi in a quiet residential neighbourhood of São Paulo.
Outdoor sculptural chairs, Ateliêr Zanini de Zanine, stoneware sculptures Donguri by Kimi Nii
A pair of chairs Curva, Joaquim Tenreiro (1950), table Guanabara, Jorge Zalszupin (1960)
Soapstone vases by Alva Design
| The building is unique in that it is assembled from a minimal number of pre-made concrete blocks. Their dimensions were precisely calculated taking into account transportation and installation on site. It is noteworthy that the structure is held together solely by gravity: it can be disassembled and reassembled like a LEGO construction set. The house itself is reminiscent of the famous Villa Savoye in France, designed by Le Corbusier in the 1930s. In it, the architect formulated the key principles of modernism - including the idea that a building should rest not on walls, but on columns. This solution frees up the facades, allows for variations in glazing and layout, raises the volume above the ground and uses the roof as a place for sunbathing, fresh air activities and other needs. |
Rocking chair, a pair of armchairs Manta and a day bed, Joaquim Tenreiro (1950), Mocho stool, Sérgio Rodrigues (1960), stoneware Donguri sculptures, Kimi Nii
The aesthetics of the Gerassi house are extremely ascetic and express the well-known formula “form follows function.”
The vast windows of the house flood the rooms with light and offer a view of the ever-changing landscape of the green garden. The neutrality of the finishes allows the objects that fill the interiors to express themselves freely and fully, as if in a gallery space. In such conditions, it is convenient and interesting to experiment with collecting art and design and showing it to guests.
Armchair with footstool MP-81, Percival Lafer (1970), Mocho stool, Sérgio Rodrigues (1960), Morfa n.02 coffee tables, Lucas Recchia, soapstone vases by Alva Design
Bulle coffee table by Lucas Recchia
Stoneware Donguri sculptures by Kimi Nii.
Bronze side table Morfa n.01 by Lucas Recchia, stoneware Donguri sculptures by Kimi Nii.