Home-studio of Tomie Ohtake opens to the public; learn about the project

The Tomie Ohtake house-studio is much more than a residence: it is a space where art, architecture and everyday life intertwine in a singular way. Located in São Paulo, the building reveals intimate aspects of the artist’s creative process, while also conveying, in its form, the plastic sensibility that marked her trajectory.

Casa-ateliê de Tomie Ohtake - Projeto de Ruy Ohtake e Adolfo Sato. (Ohtake/Divulgação)

Designed by her son, the architect Ruy Ohtake, in collaboration with Adolfo Sato, the house is an emblematic example of how architecture and art can dialogue in a fluid, integrated way — having served, for more than four decades, as a place of living, work, and gatherings.

A project that conveys the artist’s personality

Tomie Ohtake em frente à sua residência, projetada por seu filho, Ruy Ohtake, em colaboração com o arquiteto Adolfo Sato. (Instituto Tomie Ohtake/Divulgação)

The conception of the house-studio stems from an essential principle: reflecting Tomie Ohtake’s essence. Known for her organic forms, striking colors, and abstract compositions, the artist directly influenced the architectural project. The result is a residence that departs from conventional standards, privileging curves, asymmetrical volumes, and a free spatial organization.

Casa-ateliê de Tomie Ohtake - Projeto de Ruy Ohtake e Adolfo Sato. (Ohtake/Divulgação)

Ruy Ohtake not only designed the house, but developed it over time, in three distinct stages. This process accompanied the family’s life, the demands of Tomie’s artistic work, and even the growth of the collections of her other son, Ricardo Ohtake. Thus, the project also becomes a record of the maturation of Ruy’s architectural thinking.

Integration between house, studio, and social life

Casa-ateliê de Tomie Ohtake - Projeto de Ruy Ohtake e Adolfo Sato. (Ohtake/Divulgação)

One of the most interesting aspects of the house-studio is the integration between the spaces for living, creating, and socializing. From the outset, the collective projects were prioritized, revealing an architectural choice that values encounters.

Casa-ateliê de Tomie Ohtake - Projeto de Ruy Ohtake e Adolfo Sato. (Ohtake/Divulgação)

Compact bedrooms contrast with generous living rooms, conceived as a true “covered square” — a social space that, over the years, welcomed artists, intellectuals, and debates from the Brazilian cultural scene and the international scene. In this sense, the house is not only a place of individual creation, but also a hub of exchange and cultural effervescence.

This configuration reinforces the idea that, for Tomie Ohtake, there was no separation between life, art, and conviviality: everything happened in an integrated way.

Use of light and architectural forms

Casa-ateliê de Tomie Ohtake - Projeto de Ruy Ohtake e Adolfo Sato. (Ohtake/Divulgação)

Natural light plays a central role in the project. The house was conceived to receive daylight throughout the day in a controlled way, creating different atmospheres in the projects. This variation in light highlights both the artworks and the spaces, revealing textures, volumes, and colors.

Casa-ateliê de Tomie Ohtake - Projeto de Ruy Ohtake e Adolfo Sato. (Ohtake/Divulgação)

Curved forms, a hallmark of Ruy Ohtake, are also protagonists. They appear both in the structure and in the details, lending lightness and dynamism to the building. By avoiding rigid lines, the project creates a sense of continuous movement, in tune with Tomie’s artistic language.

Materials, aesthetics, and recognition

Casa-ateliê de Tomie Ohtake - Projeto de Ruy Ohtake e Adolfo Sato. (Ohtake/Divulgação)

The choice of materials reinforces the contemporary character of the house-studio. Concrete in decor: an element that creates projects connected with nature, glass, and smooth surfaces predominate, creating a neutral base that allows the artworks to stand out. At the same time, these materials contribute to the durability and functionality of the space.

Casa-ateliê de Tomie Ohtake - Projeto de Ruy Ohtake e Adolfo Sato. (Ohtake/Divulgação)

The project’s relevance was also institutionally recognized: in 1971, the residence received the best project award granted by the Brazilian Institute of Architects. Decades later, in 2013, it was listed as municipal heritage by Conpresp, consolidating its importance in Brazilian architectural and cultural history.

A living space of culture and memory

Casa-ateliê de Tomie Ohtake - Projeto de Ruy Ohtake e Adolfo Sato. (Ohtake/Divulgação)

More than an architectural landmark, the Tomie Ohtake house-studio is a living space. Its preservation goes beyond landmark status: it remains relevant by continuing to be inhabited by culture, art, and encounters.

Casa-ateliê de Tomie Ohtake - Projeto de Ruy Ohtake e Adolfo Sato. (Ohtake/Divulgação)

Conceived to balance quiet contemplation and creative vitality, the house has the potential to host exhibitions, workshops, research, and conversations — always with a diverse and transdisciplinary character. This vocation reinforces its role as a place in constant transformation, where memory and creation remain in motion.

Opening to visitors and a new cultural phase

After decades as an essentially private space, the Tomie Ohtake house-studio begins a new phase by opening to the public, reinforcing its role as a cultural hub in the city of São Paulo. The initiative is led by the Instituto Tomie Ohtake, which inaugurates this moment with the exhibition Ruy Ohtake – Percursos do habitar. Curated by Catalina Bergues and Sabrina Fontenele, the show presents a cross-section of Ruy Ohtake’s residential work between the 1960s and the 2010s, exploring the house as a space of coexistence, memory, and the construction of everyday life.

Beyond the house-studio itself, the exhibition route includes projects such as the Chiyo Hama Residence, the Nadir Zacarias Residence, the Domingos Brás Residence, the Zuleika Halpern Residence, and the housing complex known as “Redondinhos,” broadening the understanding of the author’s architectural thinking.

Visitor information – Ruy Ohtake – Percursos do habitar

Location: Tomie Ohtake house-studio

Rua Antônio de Macedo Soares, 1800 – Campo Belo – São Paulo – SP

Dates: March 7 to May 31, 2026

Hours: Thursday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets: R$ 50 (full) and R$ 25 (half-price)

CASACOR Publisher is an exclusive content-creation agent, developed by the CASACOR Technology team from the knowledge base of casacor.com.br. This text was edited by Yeska Coelho.