Rustic walls bring flair to the projects of CASACOR Bahia

The balance between the old and the new is one of the great hallmarks of CASACOR Bahia 2025. The exhibition, which is open until September 7th, occupies a previously unheard-of address - the Casa Nossa Senhora das Mercês on Avenida Sete de Setembro, in downtown Salvador, one of the oldest buildings in the city. With almost three centuries of existence, the building has received a contemporary reinterpretation at the hands of the architects and interior designers who occupy its spaces with 43 projects that reflect the theme "Sowing Dreams".

Architectural and cultural landmark

The construction that is part of Salvador's rich cultural heritage deserved an intervention befitting its stature. Known by the locals as the Convent or Colegio Nossa Senhora das Mercês, the space served for 162 years as an educational institution affiliated with the Company of Saint Ursula, used exclusively for female boarders. It was only in 1897 that the building established itself as one of the most prestigious women's schools in the city and, by the 1980s, began accepting male students. After 287 years of operation, the building ended its activities in 2022. Since then, this is the first time that the spaces of this historic landmark are being explored by the public, revealing areas that were previously inaccessible and preserving the memory of its architecture through an intervention project signed by the firm GAM Architecture, which is responsible for the masterplan of CASACOR Bahia.

A harmonious coexistence

One of the ways that the memory of the building is honored in the projects of CASACOR Bahia is through the preservation of the original walls. Several professionals on the team chose to keep the brick and, in some cases, adobe, walls intact to give more texture, dimension, and originality to the projects - thus ensuring a much more interesting proposal. Check out the following projects where the balance between the old and the new was achieved through the maintenance of the rustic walls:

1. Studio Judite by Rodrigo Rodrigues Architecture

In two of the former rooms of Colegio Nossa Senhora das Mercês is the Studio Judite, a project by Rodrigo Rodrigues Architecture. The highlight here is the large arch that integrates the two projects, totaling 40 m². The original rustic wall, with exposed bricks, is complemented by other materials such as marble, wood, and glass to create the sensory base of the space, uniting living, bedroom, functional kitchen, and bathroom.

2. Liquid Roots – Deca Space by Marlon Gama Architecture

Signed by Marlon Gama, Liquid Roots translates the meeting between history, nature, and technology. Inspired by the organic shapes of water and the heritage of colonial Portuguese houses in Bahia, the project proposes a perceptual immersion guided by textures, fluidity, and movement. Noteworthy is the union of Portuguese tiles with the rustic wall of worn bricks that runs the entire length of the living room and kitchen.

3. Atelier of Tebas by João Gabriel

With mid-century design aesthetics, João Gabriel's project is a homage to the legacy of Tebas — the first black architect in Brazil. The project - a type of creation studio that celebrates memory, resistance, and black permanence in architecture - is characterized by the colors green, mustard, and brown, along with preserved elements of the original property, such as the rustic adobe wall, that connect past and present.

4. Casa Madre by Gabriel Magalhães

With 73 m², Casa Madre, designed by Gabriel Magalhães, was conceived as the home of a contemporary, creative woman who is the protagonist of her own story, while also honoring the references to the feminine memory of the old convent. The project preserves the original rustic floor, ceiling, and walls, now worn, and establishes a synthesis between past and future. Divided into living room, kitchen, and bedroom with bathroom, the space combines functionality, freedom, and warmth.

5. Lavabo Terra e Sal by Andressa Mâtos Psicoarquitetura

The Lavabo Terra e Sal, designed by Andressa Mâtos, translates into architecture the very story of the professional, who has roots in the Vale do São Francisco and a special connection with Salvador. The walls and floor in burned terracotta cement evoke the arid soil of the hinterland, while the sky-blue ceiling and walls evoke the sea and popular Bahian architecture. The simple yet robust counter merges with the rustic walls and striking elements such as carrancas, cobogó in the shape of mandacaru, clay sculptures, and nautical ropes.

6. Secret Bar by Márcio Davi Architecture

Inspired by the speakeasies of the 1920s, the Secret Bar, created by Márcio Davi, invites you to an environment marked by mystery, sophistication, and intimacy. The soft lighting, textured materials, and sober color palette impart an elegant tone to the project. The custom furniture combines comfort and references to a luxurious past, reinterpreted in a contemporary proposal.

7. Living Vitória-Régia by Avelo Architecture

The Living Vitória-Régia, created by Daniela Agulha and Luiza Gaspar, proposes a sensitive, poetic living that is connected to the present. The project occupies two former cloister rooms of Casa Nossa Senhora das Mercês, transformed into a welcoming and contemplative space. A portal leads to the view of the chapel dome, creating a connection between the sacred, memory, and the everyday.

8. Atelier Acervo Arte e Bossa by Gabriel Gois

This is an affective space that highlights the art of Véio, with all its identity and irreverence, making a tribute to Sergipe. It is like a collection of stories that meet at different moments while maintaining communication among themselves. The original architecture of the building has been preserved and enhanced to connect the past and the present through the rustic walls, in a perfect scene to exalt northeastern art.

9. Atelier Liukalu by Grazi Costantino and Victoria Sales

The art of manual work and delicacy take center stage here, valuing the craft as a sensitive and transformative language. Every detail has been carefully considered to reflect the creative process of artist Danda Leal, from the choice of colors and textures to the exhibition of objects, honoring their history and the poetic strength of her work. This studio is a scene of dreams sewn by hand, an invitation to contemplation, creative sensitivity, and the recovery of the ability to imagine and be enchanted.