Institution dedicated to architecture and design will be housed in the Olivo Gomes Residence, a modernist icon in São José dos Campos, in the interior of São Paulo state
Submitted at Mar 14, 2026, 10:00 AM
(Nelson Kon/CASACOR)
The Museu da Casa Brasileira already has a new address set: the institution will begin operating at the Olivo Gomes Residence, a design by architect Rino Levi built in the 1950s in São José dos Campos, in the countryside of São Paulo state.
(Romullo Fontenelle/CASACOR)
Located within the Roberto Burle Marx City Park, the house was commissioned by the industrialist Olivo Gomes. The building is considered one of the most significant examples of São Paulo modern architecture and synthesizes principles recurring in Rino Levi’s work, such as the horizontality of the lines, the fluidity between the internal and external projects and the direct integration with the landscape.
(Nelson Kon/CASACOR)
The choice of building reinforces a conceptual affinity: dedicated to reflecting on home culture, design, and ways of living in Brazil, the museum is moving into an emblematic example of the country’s modern residential architecture. Before opening to the public, the property is undergoing conservation and adaptation works to host exhibitions and cultural activities.
The initiative involves the Government of the State of São Paulo, the City of São José dos Campos, the Fundação Cultural Cassiano Ricardo, and the Associação Pinacoteca Arte e Cultura.
(Romullo Fontenelle/CASACOR)
The decision on the new headquarters brings to a close a transitional period for the museum. Since 2023, when it left the Solar Fábio Prado, on Faria Lima Avenue in São Paulo, the Museu da Casa Brasileira has been staging exhibitions and activities in partnership with other institutions. In 2024, for example, it presented the exhibition Sentar, Guardar e Dormir: Museu da Casa Brasileira e Museu Paulista in dialogue, held in collaboration with the Museu Paulista of the University of São Paulo.
Museu da Casa Brasileira ficava localizado na Avenida Faria Lima, em São Paulo. (Giovanna MB/CASACOR)
Founded in 1970, the museum has established itself as one of the country’s leading references in discussions on architecture, design, and domestic culture — in addition to organizing, since 1986, the traditional MCB Design Award. Its installation in a landmark of modern architecture now opens a new chapter for the institution, this time outside the São Paulo state capital.
