Ricardo Moreno
House for the people
A monument to Brazilian modernism, this former department store has been transformed into a flexible community building that is revitalising São Paulo.
The high life
The 1958 Bretagne Building in São Paulo has aged gracefully. Loved for its design, its biggest success is the sense of community it fosters among residents, making it a truly unique place to live.
Squared away
In Higienópolis, São Paulo, the Edifício Louveira apartment block stirs modernist ardour. Monocle meets the artist who finally found a home there, fulfilling a long-held dream in the iconic building.
Marcio Kogan
São Paulo's celebrated architect on grandmothers, Bergman and Milanesa: how a rainy afternoon, a Polish-Ukrainian family recipe and a tragic loss shaped a life in design.
King of the mall
The 42-year-old motorbike-riding CEO of one of Brazil’s biggest shopping empires tells Monocle how he runs such a huge company while staying true to his family ethos.
Vila Madalena
There is more to Brazil than bustling Samba beats and this west-side neighbourhood has waves of young professionals falling for its intimate charms.
Top of the pile
Isay Weinfeld’s corncob-shaped São Paulo tower gives all 62 apartments sweeping city views and yard-sized balconies — proof that vertical living needn’t sacrifice a garden’s pleasures.
Light fantastic
Hidden behind discreet fences away from the downtown hubbub, chef Fernando Trocca’s home has been transformed by Alejandro Sticotti into a modernist masterpiece filled with sunshine, greenery and pine.
Different class
When it comes to inspiring new ventures, staying true to an idea is key. We’ve searched hotels, restaurants and remote islands to learn lessons from those achieving success by doing things their own way.
Hidden gem
When architect Angelo Bucci was asked to design a holiday home that wouldn’t disrupt the forest or beach in Ubatuba, he came up with a house that is a masterpiece of engineering.
