The Goiás architect Leo Romano drew numerous inspirations for creating Casa Bá, his latest project for CASACOR Goiás 2025. The first of these was, undoubtedly, the site itself, located in the Marista Sector of Goiânia, where the exhibition takes place. Upon visiting the site for the first time, Leo came across the Goiânia of his earliest memories, marked by neighborhoods filled mainly with houses. Faced with the abandoned building, about to be demolished, the architect decided to adjust his project: he incorporated the remains of what existed there and erected a contemporary loft from a metal structure. He thus created an architecture that evokes a barn or storage — "made to hold this past," as he poetically defines it. In addition to paying homage to the site, Leo also explored other facets of life in Goiânia. His friend Maria Abadia, a pivotal figure in both his personal journey and in the development of design and art culture in the city, is the great honoree of the projects, affectionately named Casa Bá. "I met Bá 27 years ago when she opened the 'Armazém da Decoração,' which became the main reference for Brazilian design in Goiânia. We ended up creating a friendship, an emotional bond. She is a great supporter of my work, and all my first furniture pieces were launched in her store. We didn't try to reproduce anything personal, but we created an atmosphere with a soul and Brazilian essence, which resonates deeply with her way of living," explains Leo. Starting from the references he shares with the honoree, the architect composed a contemporary loft marked by the integration of the projects and the combination of materials such as ceramics, concrete, and exposed bricks. He also took the opportunity to showcase his new series of authorial furniture. "It's a sequence of pieces with clean design and a strong Brazilian soul. In this collection, the furniture stands out for its harmonious mix between tradition and modernity," he shares. This way, visitors circulated freely through the veranda and the living room, filled with pieces featuring various textures and prints — each detail carefully thought out by Leo. The loft also gained an open bedroom, decorated with light wood furniture and off-white fabrics. However, the star of the project is two mirrored cubes on wheels, which house, respectively, the kitchen and the bathroom. "The idea is for these rooms to be able to move around the house. It's an autonomous architecture," Leo summarizes, who treats the creations as true jewels. "Of course, within the exhibition, this is a concept. It is not functional. If we were to move it to a residence, it would be necessary to plan for plumbing and electrical points," he clarifies. When closed, the cubes echo the cozy feeling of the projects and contribute to the sense of spaciousness. When opened, they reveal their meticulously organized wooden structures, filled with products from Brastemp — the sponsor of the space and the largest sponsor of CASACOR 2025 in the household appliances segment. In the kitchen, there is a microwave, cooktop, and retro fridge from the brand. In the bathroom, a washing machine. "Brastemp has always represented innovation, design, and boldness — values I also carry in my work. Creating this project at CASACOR Goiás, uniting the strength of the brand with the preservation of the emotional memory of the site, was a unique experience," reflects Leo. For the architect — the only professional to participate in every edition of CASACOR Goiás —, the strength of the project lies in the boldness and daring of these technological structures. "We embraced a composition in which part of the past acts as a backdrop to celebrate the present," he sums up, proudly.
