Synergy Of Styles

Inspired by the nationalities of its owners, the modern home design of this Brazilian home by Humberto and Fernando Campana combines South American tropical influences with sleek Italian style to surprising effect.

Few may have heard of the Campana brothers prior to their first solo design exhibition in Sao Paolo in 1989 but, since then, the studio headed by Humberto and Fernando has risen to the top of its game with an extensive list of projects commissioned by world-renowned furnishing and fashion brands such as Lasvit, Bernadaud, Edra and Fendi. Their repertoire of works also takes pride of place in museums around the world, from the Vitra Design Museum in Germany, to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Yet it was a leap of faith when homeowners Solange Ricoy and Stefano Zunino engaged Estudio Campana to design their family home, as the Campana brothers had never taken on a residential project before.

The property, located in the upmarket Jardim Paulista neighbourhood within Sao Paulo city, sits on a long and narrow plot of land. During the initial discussions, the homeowners were clear about what they wanted.

“Privacy is of utmost importance to the family, so we needed a facade that would prevent passers-by from looking into the house. However, the home has to remain airy so there is a cross-ventilation of natural breezes leading into the back garden,” Solange explains. This would allow the family (including sons Niccolo, Costantino, Matteo, and daughter Benedetta) to enjoy the best of both outdoor and indoor living.

The couple’s other requirement was for a multilevel bookcase that would become the focal highlight of the home. “It had to be large enough to accommodate 1,000 titles,” she points out.