Lina Bo Bardi was born in Italy, where she studied architecture and began her career working with Gio Ponti. Having worked as an editor of the influential magazine Domus, in 1946, she moved to Brazil with her husband, art historian and curator Pietro Maria Bardi, to participate in the creation of the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) — the country’s first museum dedicated to contemporary art. Lina not only designed the building and interiors, but also developed innovative systems for exhibiting art and unique furniture that became icons of Brazilian modernism. Their collaboration with Pietro Bardi gave rise to the magazine Habitat, the Palma design studio, and Brazil’s first industrial design course. She transformed abandoned factories into cultural centres, while her own home became a veritable laboratory for architectural experimentation. For her, both architecture and design were important tools for social change. Immersing herself in Brazilian culture, Lina sought to combine modernist aesthetics with folk traditions, creating a new design language in which simplicity of form, natural beauty of materials and functionality went hand in hand with respect for the local spirit and climate. She believed that design could change people’s lives for the better, allowing space for personal freedom and individuality in everyday life.