CASACOR Minas Gerais 2025: 49 projects celebrate the 30th anniversary of the exhibition

The headquarters of PUC Lourdes hosts, between August 15 and October 5, CASACOR Minas Gerais 2025. The building, originally constructed to house the Izabela Hendrix Methodist Institute, was inaugurated in 1941. The structure, which now integrates the Circuit Liberdade, is registered by competent authorities and draws attention for its grandeur and historical relevance. With a design by the Italian architect Raffaello Berti, who is responsible for more than 200 works in the city, including the City Hall, Minas Tênis Clube, Santa Casa, and the headquarters of the Post Office, among others, the building also served as the headquarters of the architecture and urbanism department of the Izabela Hendrix Methodist Institute, which was once considered one of the best courses in the field in the country. Acquired at the end of 2023 by PUC Minas, the registered property is now the headquarters of PUC Lourdes, currently housing the courses in Architecture and Urbanism, Digital Games, Administration, Accounting, and Economics. This edition features 49 projects, signed by a team of 74 professionals from architecture, design, and landscaping. Among them are renowned names, rising professionals, and new talents. Check out the projects!

In Berti's design, a subtle influence of modernist traits can be perceived, predominantly in the Art Deco style. The construction stands out for the precision of its shapes and for including some aesthetic experiments at the time, such as the tall and narrow windows that form a very characteristic design of its facade. The floor plan is symmetrical and functional, and the circulation leads to an outdoor patio where the building can be contemplated. The facade in stone powder, another very remarkable characteristic of the time, is also a signature of the architect, present in other projects signed by him. Throughout this 30-year journey, CASACOR Minas has occupied a total of 26 properties in distinct areas of the metropolitan region, contributing to awaken new perspectives and reflections on buildings and the fundamental role of architecture, design, and art in people's lives. Among the spaces that have hosted editions of CASACOR Minas are: Mineiro Public Archive, Costa Smeralda Building, Casa do Conde, Casa Rosa (Rua da Bahia), Alphaville Mall, Casa Niemeyer, Casarão da Sapucaí, Mangabeiras Palace (now Palace Park), Casa Ferolla, Espaço 356, as well as various properties in the Pampulha region.

The Circuit

Upon arrival, visitors will be pleasantly surprised by the lighting project of the facade, signed by the team from Atiaîa Lighting Design. The installation Rizoma, by André Gibram and Antônio Grillo, created from a beam of steel rebar, welcomes the public. Landscape designer Wanderlan Pitangui chose botanical species for the Garden Semear Sonhos that reference those used in the mid-20th century to establish a dialogue with the architectural concept of the building. In the 30-year Gallery, by Alexandre Rousset, the public will relive the 30 editions of CASACOR Minas through a collection of illustrations of the buildings that have hosted the exhibit. The Prelúdio Ticket Office is designed by Carolina Galantine and Letícia Lopes and was conceived to go beyond just an access point, offering a space that combines functionality and welcome. The Collector's Living Room, by Joana Hardy, exudes concept and authorship, demonstrating timeless choices. Ana Bahia celebrates the 80th anniversary of Líder Interiores with the Brazilian Room, in a composition that mixes a unique, bold, and intimate look, referring to sophistication and attention to detail. In the Gallery and Kitchen QuintoAndar, by Paulo Campos and Sarah Floresta, from Balsa Arquitetura, visitors can explore a corridor filled with chromatic variations that will host a programming of art exhibitions. In the kitchen, a space that continues the concept of the gallery, the proposal is to reproduce the daily life of a real house, combining colors, materials, and current objects with elements of affective memory, provoking reflections on what makes a house a home. Josy Chaves designs the Veins of the Earth Bathroom, a space aimed at promoting well-being and a connection with nature. In the Confraria, Beth Nejm presents a space aimed at those who enjoy hosting and socializing, highlighting a panel developed by Studio K2, which digitally deconstructs the work 'Camponeses Market' (1570) by Peeter Baltens. Camila Medrado presents the Room: Time to Decant, which was conceived inspired by the principles of neuroarchitecture, inviting moments of pause and delight. In the Fertile Silence, by Maycon Altera, the proposal is to show that a working place also needs to be inspiring and welcoming. The Mineiridade Living Room, by Flávia Roscoe, stands out for uniting design with comfort, marked by the presence of art, especially the works of artist Maria Lira Marques, highlighting the riches of the Jequitinhonha Valley, in contrast to the contemporary works of Ricardo Homem and Bruno Cançado. The Mirror Room, by Mariana Queiroz and Patricia Naves, from Esc Arquitetura, has the air of an installation, provoking the visitor while celebrating the forms and possibilities of Brazilian design and art. The Elos room, by Gislene Lopes, is an invitation to encounter and coexistence, leaving the chaos outside. The space includes several pieces designed by the architect, especially the wallpaper that covers the ceiling, embracing visitors. The Suite Hotel Ouro do Cerrado, designed by Sérgio Viana, connects the history of Minas with contemporary architecture, eschewing any trace of ostentation. The first pause of the circuit is the Cria Café and Coffee Bathroom, by Marcela Castro, from MCA Arquitetura. The project features a futuristic aesthetic that welcomes without intimidation. The bathroom, inspired by the organic grandeur of Antelope Canyon in the American Southwest, proposes a sensory journey. Bruna de Sá and Chico Casarões drew inspiration from Serra do Curral to create Curvas do Interior, Texturas do Tempo. In it, the brown, white, and gray marble, extracted in Barroso, MG, translates, with its striking veins, the landscape and the riches of the state. Continuing through the Raffaello Berti Corridor, an intervention signed by the Hardy Design team, creating an immersive experience that celebrates the building's architecture. Cris Capanema surprises and awakens desires with the Closet Dell Anno, marked by high-end cabinetry and the precious touch of art, which adds sensitivity. With few interferences to the original construction, the Dining Room by Pedro Lázaro is an ode to content, valuing the cultural and historical baggage, masterfully providing the encounter of art with design. The Four’s Room, by Djalma Ugoline, is a project that celebrates the beauty of family ties, presenting a room designed for a grandmother's house that occasionally welcomes granddaughters. In the Violet Bath, Luisa Mano challenges the notion of beauty that transcends time, showing that the past and present can coexist harmoniously, without overlaps. In the Living Room of Roots, Manuela Senna presents a bar room with predominant earthy tones, creating a serene and sensory atmosphere inspired by the art of welcoming. Francisco Morais, from Framo Arquitetura, also invests in the welcoming concept in his Encounter and Alento, a space that embraces and allows the visitor to take a breath. The Cabinet, a project by Fernanda Da Pieve and Rafaele Drumond, from Em Cena Arquitetura, highlights the “sanctuary” of a high-performance executive, where high performance and well-being go hand in hand. The Perfumery Maison Deboá has a project by Larissa Mendes, designed as a sensory extension of the brand. The store breaks away from being just a sales point, taking on the role of a space for experiences. The Casa Boa Vista Deca, by Cris and Linda Martins, from Maraú Design Studio, is a refuge that reflects the essence of contemporary farms, bringing together the rustic and the contemporary.

The Piano Bar, by Gláucia Britto, celebrates encounters, accompanied by good music. In the Loft Essence, by Graziella Nicolai, the idea was to represent a refuge designed for an independent and authentic woman who values the silence of pauses. With the Origem Minas, Cynthia Silva proposes a very particular interpretation of the concept of mineiridade, gathering elements of contemporary style while presenting, in partnership with Sebrae, a selection of products from the agribusiness and regional art. In the Living Room, Dunia Zaidan breaks the standardized logic that associates neutrality with elegance, reaffirming the value of personality instead, while Ana Paula Paolinelli proposes a new reading for the living space integrated with dinner in the Singular Space. The Hall of Intervals, by Janaina Araujo, presents itself as a subtle intervention that mixes iconic and contemporary design pieces, reinforcing the dialogue between memory and the present. Izabella Stambassi is the author of Niê Giardino, an invitation to a pause beside the freshness of the garden. Located between three projects, the Elo Garden, by Ariel Teixeira, is a vibrant transition filled with tropical species. The Dream Yard, by Cris Zumpano, is an invitation to rethink our relationship with nature, focusing on sustainability. The store Entre Olhares - Gustavo Eyewear, by Ana Luiza Almeida, was planned to be a space aimed at provoking contemplation — of oneself, others, and the environment. And speaking of contemplation, the Solar installation, by Antônio Grillo, Fernando Pacheco, and Hugo Matos, from the Architecture and Urbanism course team at PUC Minas, creates sensory spatialities in the internal patio. The project, authored by professors of the Architecture and Urbanism Course at PUC Minas, was developed and executed with the participation of students, technical staff from the course, and institution employees. The (IN)SPIRA Garden, by Kat Rosa, chooses natural and sensory elements to offer a real and symbolic breath amidst the urban landscape. In the Brastemp Chalet, by Lívea Esteves, a functional gourmet space designed to host social gatherings, dinners, and small meetings throughout the show. In the Taquaras Garden, Felipe Fontes proposes a naturalistic concept, valuing natural formations, creating a light contrast with the surrounding constructions. The Inside Yard, by André Rocha and Tiago Rossi, houses a series of fruit-bearing species with striking textures and vegetation. In Niê Tokyo, by Mario Caetano and Marina Lipiani, the proposal is contemplative and engaging. Inspired by the basic shapes used in modernist architecture, allowing for a disruptive occupation, with emphasis on a counter-shaped counter. The Meeting Porch, by Bruna Raid, is an elegant invitation to appreciation. The Minéra Restaurant, by Rafaela and Silvana Mertens, from Arca Arquitetos, proposes an ode to the riches of Minas Gerais, uniting the act of mining with the appreciation of our most precious assets: clay, minerals, and gastronomy. The Garden: Roots of Time, by Dr. Do Mato Landscape Solutions, mixes native and ornamental species, organic shapes and precise lines, in a dialogue between memory and innovation. Closing the circuit, the environment Terra que Reflete, by Mariana Borges, abounds in Brazil, both in colors and materials used.

Gastronomy in Highlight

CASACOR Minas celebrates gastronomy with the participation of state icons. The official restaurant of the show again features the signature of Agnes Farkasvölgyi. An essential figure in the history of local gastronomy and a traditional name in the exhibition — this is her eighth participation, with six restaurants and two cafés in her curriculum —, the chef now presents MINÉRA: a creative Mineiro cuisine, with repertoire and freshness, designed to engage with the present time. One of the novelties of this edition is that the restaurant will be open to the public, meaning there is no need for entry tickets to enjoy it throughout the exhibition period. On the menu, Agnes proposes an autoral Mineira cuisine, without folklore or easy concessions. The dishes start from tradition to experiment, with lightness, acidity, and technical precision. Among the highlights are the Stinco in Cocote, with pork slowly cooked in a sealed pan with pizza dough; the Filé, Cana, and Coffee, served with reduced cachaça sauce and coffee; and the Tortelli of sweet cheese with dashi of burnt onion and thyme, a recipe that synthesizes the restaurant's proposal: starting from heritage to create something absolutely new. The desserts are signed by Sá Marina, invited by Agnes to join the project. With the menu The Beautiful Arts of Minas in 5 desserts, the pastry chef presents sweet-sculptures that connect art, flavor, and narrative. Each creation pays tribute to an artistic expression — painting, poetry, music, sculpture, and architecture — and a Minas artist. Among them, Avoa, inspired by Milton Nascimento, and Tropeço, evoking Carlos Drummond de Andrade, are examples of how pastry can also provoke and move. "In Minas, I learned that sugar can also be clay, gold, or prayer," says Marina. Alongside Agnes are Fernanda Brugger, based in Berlin, responsible for creating the restaurant's concept and co-author of the menu, and Shima, a longtime partner who has been contributing to the project since 2011. "It is a great pleasure to continue surrounded by people who believe in the work and stimulate me to keep creating with curiosity and desire," says the chef. The restaurant occupies the ground floor of the Capela Verda Farrar, a modernist project by Sylvio de Vasconcelos, with a project by Arca Arquitetura. The proposal values the original lines of the building and pays homage to Minas' landscape through earth tones, natural materials, native vegetation, and textures that evoke the territory. The 30th edition of CASACOR Minas Gerais also marks a special moment in the history of Terraço Niê. For the first time, the restaurant officially participates in the event, occupying two distinct environments connected through the appreciation of architecture, landscape, and a good table: the Niê Tóquio, a bar designed by Mário Caetano, and the Niê Giardino, a café created by Izabella Stambassi. Both spaces offer visitors carefully thought-out gastronomic experiences that dialogue with the concept of each project. The menu of Niê Tóquio, with contemporary Asian inspiration, is signed by chef Victor Zuliani, who also commands the kitchen of Terraço Niê. The menu presents dishes like gyoza of cupim with oriental glaze, wagyu tartar with cured egg yolk and lotus chips, nori tacos with various fillings, as well as desserts like matcha tart with white chocolate and 70% chocolate mousse with yuzu. In the Niê Giardino café, the menu is signed by Débora Ignachiti, a partner and baker of the Bagueteria Francesa. The proposal values affective ingredients and artisanal preparations, like cornmeal broa with tangerine, cheese bread with jelly, vegetarian toasts, and brioche rabanadas with orange-flavored cream — all designed to be savored at leisure, in tune with the environment. "CASACOR and Niê form a natural marriage. They are brands that connect through architecture, design, and the appreciation of experience. Having Niê at this commemorative edition is very symbolic for us," says Pedro Lobo, a partner of the restaurant. He also highlights Niê's vocation to honor architecture, as the original restaurant is located on the 25th floor of the first skyscraper signed by Oscar Niemeyer in Belo Horizonte. "Our space is an ode to architecture from the beginning. Participating in CASACOR reaffirms this pillar with even more strength, as we have already valued this universe even before we were part of it," he adds. The Cria Cafés also brings its creative and welcoming essence to CASACOR Minas 2025 with a project signed by Marcela Alves, from MCA Arquitetura. Conceived to be a meeting point, a pause, and tasting area, the space embodies the brand's purpose to transform the simple ritual of coffee into a sensory and memorable experience. A mirrored ceiling, a constant aroma of fresh coffee — even in the bathrooms —, watercolor paintings made with the brand's own coffee, and carefully selected music create a setting that stimulates all the senses. "Creating moments" is more than just a slogan: it is the essence of a project that invites visitors to experience the universe of specialty coffees in an immersive way. For the show, chef Giovanna Giannetti signs a new menu, designed to harmonize with different coffee profiles. The recipes prioritize flavor, agility, and presentation, maintaining Cria's identity. Among the highlights are the creative coffee-based drinks, the tangerine cake with citrus glaze and almond crumble, the creamy corn cake with guava paste, and the Cria coffee pudding. The participation also marks the launch of a new special coffee profile, created exclusively for the event.

Art

In addition to the works of art and interventions that integrate this edition's projects, the 30th CASACOR Minas will feature the QuintoAndar Gallery, designed by the Balsa Arquitetura team. The idea is to offer temporary exhibitions, inviting the visitor to walk a path that provides an immersive experience in the universe of various artists. Every week, a different curation will allow the space to assume multiple facets throughout the exhibition period. The first week of programming at the QuintoAndar gallery features curation by AM Galeria and presents, from August 15 to 25, an exhibit of works signed by photographer Jomar Bragança. Recognized as one of the main names in architectural photography in the country, Jomar, who is also an architect by training, has a strong authorial production as well. The exhibition brings together a slice of the experience and sensitivity of the photographer, offering a vast panorama of his work. Between August 25 and September 1, the QuintoAndar gallery will host an exhibition by photographer Luciana Rennó. Since beginning her journey in the world of photography, she has been traversing landscapes in Brazil and around the world, capturing images that convey a connection with the natural environment. Whether in dense forests, imposing mountains, or serene beaches, Luciana's gaze always finds the unexpected, revealing layers of hidden beauty, textures, and vibrations that only her unique sensitivity can perceive. With sharp intuition and a deep connection to nature, she reveals, through her lenses, angles and details that seem hidden to others. Her sensitivity and gaze are directly connected to the nature and its colors, textures, and forms. From September 1 to 8, the works of Renato Morcatti will occupy the QuintoAndar gallery. This time, the curation is signed by Lemos de Sá Galeria. Renato Morcatti's work transits between the HOUSE that was born and its social surroundings and uses drawing and sculpture to narrate memories. It arises from family experiences guided by the emotion of memories of the places we inhabit and that also inhabit us throughout life. It mixes images of the present with the past, interfering in its current representation, to stimulate our intangible perception of things. The artist revisits the HOUSE, drawing from personal archives of photos, videos, objects, and furniture, looking at the architecture of internal and external spaces, gaps, corners, doors, and even its social surroundings as the central point of reflection and creation in his artistic projects. Upcoming exhibitions at the QuintoAndar gallery will be announced soon.

Service - CASACOR Minas Gerais 2025

• When: from August 15 to October 5
• Where: Rua da Bahia, 2020 - Lourdes - Belo Horizonte - MG
• Hours: Tuesday to Friday, from 2 pm to 10 pm (ticket office from 2 pm to 9 pm). Saturdays, from 12 pm to 10 pm (ticket office from 12 pm to 9 pm). Sundays, from 12 pm to 8 pm (ticket office from 12 pm to 7 pm). On holidays, CASACOR does not change its opening hours.
• Digital Ticket Office: https://appcasacor.com.br/events/minas-gerais-2025
• Ticket Prices: Full – R$ 90 from Tuesday to Friday / R$ 100 Saturday and Sunday. Half Price: R$ 45 from Tuesday to Friday / R$ 50 Saturday and Sunday.