Eastern cultures inspired the creation of Casa Toushi, a projects by Duratex designed by architect
Bruno Carvalho for
CASACOR São Paulo 2025. Guided by the lightness, silence, and spirituality of Chinese and Taiwanese traditions, the project occupies 175 m² and features a living room, tea room, bedroom, and bathroom, highlighting the careful work with wood developed by the brand. Married to a Taiwanese woman and father to a newborn, Bruno brought references of his own family history to the space, also celebrating a new chapter in his career at the helm of his solo office. "I think this projects gathers tradition — present in culture, habits, and oriental symbols — and innovation — in construction techniques and Duratex materials," comments the architect. Recalling typical elements of Chinese architecture, he created unique installations with the brand's products. The main example is the exclusive panel, which refers to the folding screens made with translucent paper. "The Chinese call these papers Toushi, derived from the bark of a tree, used in tea ceremonies. They represent much of Asian architecture. That’s why we named the projects this way. And we used an original paper from China that has a very interesting texture," he explains.
Na suíte, além do painel de papel, Bruno incluiu itens pessoais vindos da China e de Taiwan – ao fundo, a árvore também compõe a simbologia de força e prosperidade explorada no ambiente. (Rafael Renzo/CASACOR)
Another highlight is the handcrafted work on the ceiling — a structure conceived by Bruno and executed by Celmar. Made with Duratex Bourbon Walnut MDF, the ceiling, along with the living room shelf, references the use of dark wood in oriental constructions. Meanwhile, the Duratex Absolute Pearl pattern, a brand launch, covers the walls and frames the living and the bedroom areas. "In the tea room, in turn, the architect created a pattern that printed the concept of the projects through digital printing on the MDF panel, a product part of the Duratex You line, which allows product customization."
No living, as paredes foram revestidas do padrão Duratex Pérola Absoluto e harmonizam com o mobiliário e os objetos – todos dentro da paleta cromática neutra, proposta pelo arquiteto. (Rafael Renzo/CASACOR)
The contemporary proposal also appears in other elements. On the floor, the coating Matter — made from crushed sanitary ware in collaboration between Castelatto and Deca — brings a greenish hue that refers to jade, a symbol of his wife's family. According to Bruno, in Chinese tradition, the stone represents strength, prosperity, and spirituality. The color repeats on the countertops and coatings with Portinari Petra and Castelatto Matter Sage products, both recently launched. Sanitary ware and metal from the Deca You line also complete the projects. For Duratex, the strength of the project lies in the harmony and versatility of its materials. "Casa Toushi beautifully expresses what Duratex believes in: the power of wood to tell stories, welcome, and inspire. The project translates a silent elegance, where tradition and innovation meet to create a space with a soul," affirms Patricia Cisternas, Marketing Manager at Duratex.
Detalhe da sala da cerimônia do chá, com marcenaria personalizada da linha Duratex You. (Rafael Renzo/CASACOR)
This purpose of making Casa Toushi lively and affectionate also guided the curation of objects. Bruno arranged various personal items in the production, such as tableware, artworks, and family pieces. On the walls, small frames poetically unveil pages from his father-in-law's diary, written in his early years living in Paraguay and Brazil. "It was a way to make the projects more personal, more intimate... we didn’t want anything pasteurized," he states. According to the architect, everything was thought out with sensitivity and delicacy to evoke emotion and engage the audience. "CASACOR is an ephemeral event, with a beginning, middle, and end. The important thing is to create projects that transcend the present moment. The idea was to eternalize this experience in the visitors' memory," he concludes. [abril-veja-tambem]W3siaWQiOjIwNDUzNywidGl0bGUiOiJDQVNBQ09SIFNQIGVuY2VycmEgMzgmI3hBQTsgZWRpJiN4RTc7JiN4RTM7byBjb20gbiYjeEZBO21lcm9zIGV4dHJhb3JkaW4mI3hFMTtyaW9zIn0seyJpZCI6MjAyNzI3LCJ0aXRsZSI6IkVsZW5jbyBDQVNBQ09SIFNQIHJlY2ViZSBvcmllbnRhJiN4RTc7JiN4RTM7byBzb2JyZSBpbXBhY3RvcyBhbWJpZW50YWlzIGRvcyBwcm9qZXRvcyJ9LHsiaWQiOjIwMTQ3MiwidGl0bGUiOiJPbGhlIHBhcmEgY2ltYTogdGV0b3MgcyYjeEUzO28gZGVzdGFxdWUgbmEgQ0FTQUNPUiAyMDI1In1d
