From July 10 to September 7, 2025,
CASACOR Bahia will reach its
31st edition in a historic and unprecedented location. The exhibition will occupy
one of the oldest buildings in Salvador, the Casa Nossa Senhora das Mercês, located on Avenida Sete de Setembro in the city center. With almost three centuries of history, the building is part of the
rich cultural heritage of the Baiano capital and is situated in a region that has been undergoing increasing appreciation, becoming a hub of luxury tourism and culture.
Known to the locals as
Convento or Colégio Nossa Senhora das Mercês, the space was founded in
1735 by the Bahian Úrsula Luísa de Monserrat, still a novice, as an educational institution linked to the Companhia de Santa Úrsula – also called Ursulinas. For its first 162 years, the site was exclusive to female students. Starting in 1897, it became established as
one of the most prestigious girls' schools in the city and, by the 1980s, began admitting male students, following changes in the educational system. In 2022, after 287 years of operation and having been a reference for various generations, it closed its activities.
In this edition,
CASACOR Bahia will allow the public to explore, for the first time, the spaces of this historic landmark, including areas that have previously been inaccessible, such as the cloister of the Ursulina sisters, which has sparked curiosity and imagination over the centuries.
The
masterplan of the exhibition will be designed by the firm
GAM Arquitetura, which will develop a contemporary project for the occupation of the historic property. The proposal will respect its memory and at the same time bring
new interpretations to its grand structures, connecting to the theme of CASACOR 2025,
Sow Dreams.
"The holding of CASACOR Bahia in a convent of almost three centuries is a
unprecedented experience for the event and for the city. More than an exhibition of architecture and decoration, this edition represents a
reconnection of the public with a place of great symbolism. In each projects, visitors will have the opportunity to
experience the history and transformation of this space that has marked generations," emphasizes Magali Santana, director of CASACOR Bahia.
