An interview with architect Ruy Ohtake
Creating some of Brazil's most recognizable and arguably most colourful buildings - like the striking Thomie Ohtake Cultural Institute designed for his artist mother and the visually arresting Hotel Unique - Sao Paulo-based Ruy Ohtake is one of the country's most well-known and respected contemporary architects.
Wallpaper* has produced a special issue on Brazil as we feel that this is a good time for the country and its architecture. Do you agree?
There is a cultural institute, which showcases just that, the Institute Thomie Ohtake. It has just held a very important exhibition about contemporary Finnish design. The space itself was opened in 2004 and it has amazing exhibitions and initiatives which showcase art, architecture and photography from Brazil and abroad.
Is there a lot of new and interesting architecture in Brazil at the moment?
Yes, and I am trying to do Brazilian contemporary architecture myself. In all my works in the past ten to 15 years, the challenge is to create something that is truly contemporary.
What are the main elements of your architecture?
It is the relationship with the city. Architecture is part of the history of the city and as such any contemporary architectural intervention and expression can be crucial to the city's development. Architecture must provoke surprise and emotion. The life inside the architecture must also be agreeable and not forced.
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You do a lot of colour in your work. How important is it for you?
Colour is life. Through colour, you can express yourself and can create a very contemporary idiom.
Do you see architecture as an art and the building as a painting?
Absolutely. Architecture is definitely one of the arts and probably the most difficult one, because people actually work and live in it. The presence of architecture as art in the city is very important.
Do you feel your architecture could be described as Brazilian? How does it connect with the country and the culture?
I design Brazilian architecture and work with Brazilian culture as these are my roots. But I also feel that architectural expression must be... well, I don't like the word international, but it must be for everybody. It needs to be global.
What are your influences?
As a student, my influences were Oscar Niemeyer and Artigas, who did the architecture school of São Paulo where I studied. In addition, I like very much Frank Gehry. He was able to transform the city of Bilbao with just one piece of architecture. It was very powerful. Also I follow the work of Renzo Piano, Thom Mayne, as well as many British architects.
Architect: Marcos Acayaba
Project: Acayaba House, 1997
Read our Q&A with Marcos Acayaba
Project: Baeta House, 1993
Project: Olga House, 1990
Project: Pindorama Pavilion, 1985
Project: Terpins House, 1992
Architect: Angelo Bucci of SPBR
Project: Apartment building in Lugano
Read our Q&A with Angelo Bucci
Project: Atilba Leonel School in Sao Paulo
Project: House in Santa Teresa
Project: Housing complex in Algarve
Project: Mediatheque PUC in Rio de Janeiro
Architect: Bernardes + Jacobsen
Project: Guaruja House, 2007
Photography: Leonardo Finotti
Project: Guaruja House, 2007
Photography: Leonardo Finotti
Project: JH House
Photography: Leonardo Finotti
Project: JZ House
Photography: Leonardo Finotti
Project: JZ House
Photography: Leonardo Finotti
Architect: Marcelo Ferraz of Brasil Arquitetura
Project: Bread Museum
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Marcelo Ferraz
Project: Igatu Museum
Project: ISA
Photography: Daniel Ducci
Project: Conjunto KKKK
Photography: Nelson Kon
Project: Rodin Museum
Photography: Nelson Kon
Architect: Arthur Casas
Project: PK Iporanga residence
Project: KAA restaurant, Sao Paulo
Project: MP House
Project: Avenue Atlantica apartment, 2009
Project: AC Iporanga, 2005
Architect: Marcio Kogan
Project: Bahia
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Marcio Kogan
Project: Micasa Volume B
Photography: Nelson Kon
Project: Osler House
Photography: Pedro Vannucchi
Project: Paraty House
Photography: Nelson Kon
Project: Prime Time
Architect: Eduardo Longo
Project: Casa GL
Project: Casa GL
Project: Casa CMC
Project: Casa CAL
Project: Casa CEG
Project: Apartamento MG
Project: Apartamento MG
Project: Proposta Para O Elevado Costa E Silva
Project: Proposta Para O Elevado Costa E Silva
Project: Proposta Praca Roosevelt - Praia Roosevelt
Project: Apartamento do Bola
Project: Casa Bola Galia
Project: Casa Bola Galia
Project: Casa Bola Galia
Project: Casa CMC
Architect: Fernando de Mello Franco of MMBB
Project: Boaaava residence
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Fernando de Mello Franco
Project: Antonico Creek reurbanisation - Plan of the typical sector
Project: Headquarters of Corporacion Andina de Fomento, Caracas, Venezuela
Photography: Nelson Kon
Project: Music centre at Campos do Jordao
Photography: Nelson Kon
Project: Music centre at Campos do Jordao
Photography: Nelson Kon
Project: Vila Roma residence
Photography: Nelson Kon
Architect: Ruy Ohtake
Project: FCC Biulding, 2005
Photography: Nelson Kon
Read our Q&A with Ruy Ohtake
Project: FCC Building, 2005
Photography: Nelson Kon
Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti
Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti
Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti
Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti
Project: Instituto Tomie Ohtake, 2003
Photography: Leonardo Finotti
Project: Op Art Flagship Store, 2009
Photography: ROAU Archive
Project: Op Art Flagship Store, 2009
Photography: ROAU Archive
Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci
Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci
Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci
Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci
Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci
Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci
Project: Daniel Rosseler Residence, 2009
Photography: Daniel Ducci
Project: Zuleika Halpern Residence, 2005
Photography: Turca Reines
Project: Zuleika Halpern Residence, 2005
Photography: Turca Reines
Project: Santa Catarina Building, 2003
Photography: Daniel Ducci, Carlos Gueller
Project: Santa Catarina Building, 2003
Photography: Daniel Ducci, Carlos Gueller
Architect: Isay Weinfeld Architects
Project: Havaianas
Photography: Nelson Kon
Project: Fasano Las Piedras Hotel
Photography: Luiza Sigulem
Project: Midrash
Photography: Leonardo Finotti
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
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