Galeria Martins&Montero recreates New York loft in Conjunto Nacional

The 150m² space designed by architect and interior design specialist Juliana Cascaes was inspired by the lofts inhabited by art collectors who live in the megalopolis of New York. The space was designed with the concept of an art gallery in mind and, for this very reason, was named after the gallery co-created by Jaqueline Martins and Maria Montero. The wall, pillars, beams and ceiling were preserved in their original format to honor the memory of Conjunto Nacional , the building that will host CASACOR São Paulo 2024. “My biggest goal was to enhance the local architecture of Conjunto Nacional,” says Juliana. The mix of styles is a landmark: the architect combines industrial, classic and contemporary elements. According to her, all the elements in the gallery have an artistic purpose. The furniture, in fact, behaves like works of art in the space: among the pieces, a sofa from the 1980s, a side table with PVC legs, iron and marble top brings playfulness together with the purple Ipê bench and the antique straw chairs.

The English brick columns, made of sustainable cement and in terracotta color, are reminiscent of ancient Greek columns — reinterpreted in a contemporary way . They make up the eclectic aesthetic of the space along with the crushed brass door and the classic chairs by Maria Tereza Alves with blue upholstery, which also contrast with a modern work by Lydia Okumura .

The installation with Lydia's painting offers a unique visual experience, which can be observed from different angles.

Juliana also brought a work of art by Mestre Dicinho to evoke ancestry in the space and to dialogue with the theme of CASACOR 2024: “As a gift, the now”. Another highlight is the demolition wood floor , developed exclusively for the space and made by burning the wood — a Japanese technique. called Shou Sugi Ban , which increases the resistance of the material and allows the floor to be fully reused after the exhibition.

The project's lighting was designed to highlight the colors of the artwork and the floor, explains the architect: “The directional lights were installed in an exposed manner, enhancing each piece of art and decorative object.”

While recalling references from our ancestors, some objects in the Art Gallery provide a more modern interpretation. “I brought back my fond memories through the work of my grandfather, Sylvio Sebastiani, who was a political journalist and very influential in the city where he lived. The desk in the space was where he wrote his articles and also wrote three books,” says Juliana.

SERVICE – CASACOR São Paulo 2024

Where: National Complex, on Paulista Avenue, 2073 – São Paulo (SP) When: May 21 to July 28, 2024 Box office hours: Tuesday to Saturday, from 12pm to 10pm Sundays and holidays, from 11am to 9pm Digital box office: https://appcasacor.com.br/en/events/sao-paulo-2024 Ticket prices: R$ 111 – Full R$ 56 – Half-price Purchase of half-price tickets: senior citizens aged 60 and over, students presenting a valid photo ID or payment receipt. Disabled individuals and their companions (according to law 12.933/13). Proof of half-price tickets will be required at the door.