An interview with architect Angelo Bucci of SPBR

Founded in 2003 by Angelo Bucci, SPBR is one of Brazil's most promising new generation architectural outfits. Their MO: a strong sense of the flow between interior and exterior spaces.

Could you tell us a bit about the history of the studio?

The studio was founded in 2003 as a response to my working conditions and

needs: sharing time between university and office, while working in small teams

with a flexible structure.

Who are the partners?

SPBR is basically owned by me; but I try to manage it as a group of architects. Thus, João Paulo Meirelles de Faria (31); Juliana Braga (32) and Ciro Miguel (30) all own a minor part of the firm as associate architects. This situation provides quite a flexible structure as it allows each of us to adjust our involvement in each project. Ciro has finished his Masters at Columbia, NYC; and Juliana will be finishing her Masters soon at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Sao Paulo where we all studied.

Where else have you all worked?

I was a founding partner at MMBB architects from 1996 to 2002; and I was also a partner at Arquitetura Paulista with Alvaro Puntoni and Alvaro Razuk between 1989 and 1994.

How would you describe SPBR's architectural approach?

At a time when architecture faces a lack of meaning, I'm trying to design meaningful projects.

Are there particular materials or spatial arrangements that characterise the

work of the practice?

We try to use the same air inside and outside; our work is to create the spaces in between indoor and outdoor. In addition, structure is naturally very carefully considered.

What projects have recently been completed?

We've just done houses in Carapicuiba and Santa Teresa, as well as the Ataliba Leonel School, and the House in Ubatuba.

What is currently being designed?

We're doing the Mediatheque PUC building in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazil Apartment Building in Lugano, Switzerland, a housing complex in the Algarve, Portugal, as well as several other small projects.

Are there any Brazilian architects in particular who have inspired or encouraged you?

Oscar Niemeyer, Afonso Eduardo Reidy, Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Vilanova Artigas, Carlos Millan, Eduardo de Almeida, Marcello Fragelli, and Marcos Acayaba.

Architect: Marcos Acayaba

Acayaba House, 1997


(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Acayaba House, 1997
Read our Q&A with Marcos Acayaba

Baeta House, 1993

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Baeta House, 1993

Olga House, 1990

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Olga House, 1990

Pindorama Pavilion, 1985

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Pindorama Pavilion, 1985

Terpins House, 1992

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Terpins House, 1992

Architect: Angelo Bucci of SPBR

Apartment building in Lugano

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Apartment building in Lugano
Read our Q&A with Angelo Bucci

Atilba Leonel School in Sao Paulo

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Atilba Leonel School in Sao Paulo

House in Santa Teresa

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: House in Santa Teresa

Housing complex in Algarve

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Housing complex in Algarve

Mediatheque PUC in Rio de Janeiro

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Mediatheque PUC in Rio de Janeiro

Architect: Bernardes + Jacobsen

Guaruja House, 2007

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Project: Guaruja House, 2007
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Guaruja House, 2007

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Project: Guaruja House, 2007
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

JH House

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Project: JH House
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

JZ House

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Project: JZ House
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

JZ House

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Project: JZ House
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Architect: Marcelo Ferraz of Brasil Arquitetura

Bread Museum

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Project: Bread Museum
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Marcelo Ferraz

Igatu Museum

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Igatu Museum

ISA

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Project: ISA
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Conjunto KKKK

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Project: Conjunto KKKK
Photography: Nelson Kon

Marcelo Ferraz of Brasil Arquitetura

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Project: Rodin Museum
Photography: Nelson Kon

Architect: Arthur Casas

PK Iporanga residence

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: PK Iporanga residence

KAA restaurant, Sao Paulo

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: KAA restaurant, Sao Paulo

MP House

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: MP House

Avenue Atlantica apartment, 2009

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Avenue Atlantica apartment, 2009

AC Iporanga, 2005

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: AC Iporanga, 2005

Architect: Marcio Kogan

Bahia

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Project: Bahia
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Marcio Kogan

Micasa Volume B

(Image credit: Marcio Kogan)

Project: Micasa Volume B
Photography: Nelson Kon

Osler House

(Image credit: Pedro Vannucchi)

Project: Osler House
Photography: Pedro Vannucchi

Paraty House

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Project: Paraty House
Photography: Nelson Kon

Prime Time

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Prime Time

Architect: Eduardo Longo

Casa GL

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Casa GL

Casa GL

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Casa GL

Casa CMC

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Casa CMC

Casa CAL

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Casa CAL

Casa CEG

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Casa CEG

Apartamento MG

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Apartamento MG

Apartamento MG

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Apartamento MG

Proposta Para O Elevado Costa E Silva

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Proposta Para O Elevado Costa E Silva

Proposta Para O Elevado Costa E Silva

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Proposta Para O Elevado Costa E Silva

Proposta Praca Roosevelt - Praia Roosevelt

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Proposta Praca Roosevelt - Praia Roosevelt

Apartamento do Bola

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Apartamento do Bola

Casa Bola Galia

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Casa Bola Galia

Casa Bola Galia

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Casa Bola Galia

Casa Bola Galia

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Casa Bola Galia

Casa CMC

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Casa CMC

Architect: Fernando de Mello Franco of MMBB

Boaaava residence

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Project: Boaaava residence
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Fernando de Mello Franco

Antonico Creek reurbanisation - Plan of the typical sector

(Image credit: TBC)

Project: Antonico Creek reurbanisation - Plan of the typical sector

Headquarters of Corporacion Andina de Fomento, Caracas, Venezuela

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Project: Headquarters of Corporacion Andina de Fomento, Caracas, Venezuela
Photography: Nelson Kon

Music centre at Campos do Jordao

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Project: Music centre at Campos do Jordao
Photography: Nelson Kon

Music centre at Campos do Jordao

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Project: Music centre at Campos do Jordao
Photography: Nelson Kon

Vila Roma residence

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Project: Vila Roma residence
Photography: Nelson Kon

Architect: Ruy Ohtake

FCC Biulding, 2005

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Project: FCC Biulding, 2005
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Ruy Ohtake

FCC Building, 2005

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Project: FCC Building, 2005
Photography: Nelson Kon

Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Op Art Flagship Store, 2009

(Image credit: ROAU Archive)

Project: Op Art Flagship Store, 2009
Photography: ROAU Archive

Op Art Flagship Store, 2009

(Image credit: ROAU Archive)

Project: Op Art Flagship Store, 2009
Photography: ROAU Archive

Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci)

Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci

Zuleika Halpern Residence, 2005

(Image credit: Turca Reines)

Project: Zuleika Halpern Residence, 2005
Photography: Turca Reines

Zuleika Halpern Residence, 2005

(Image credit: Turca Reines)

Project: Zuleika Halpern Residence, 2005
Photography: Turca Reines

Santa Catarina Building, 2003

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci, Carlos Gueller)

Project: Santa Catarina Building, 2003
Photography: Daniel Ducci, Carlos Gueller

Santa Catarina Building, 2003

(Image credit: Daniel Ducci, Carlos Gueller)

Project: Santa Catarina Building, 2003
Photography: Daniel Ducci, Carlos Gueller

Architect: Isay Weinfeld Architects

Havaianas

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Project: Havaianas
Photography: Nelson Kon

Fasano Las Piedras Hotel

(Image credit: Luiza Sigulem)

Project: Fasano Las Piedras Hotel
Photography: Luiza Sigulem

Midrash

(Image credit: Leonardo Finotti)

Project: Midrash
Photography: Leonardo Finotti

Havaianas

(Image credit: Nelson Kon)

Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.