jorge zalszupin's house turned museum in são paulo celebrates his design legacy

preserving the design legacy of jorge zalszupin

nestled within a tropical garden in são paulo, casa museo zalszupin preserves the legacy of polish/brazilian architect jorge zalszupin, and celebrates his influence on the world of design. built as zalszupin’s main residence, the structure now serves as a cultural space led by brazilian design brand ETEL, and local artwork gallery almeida & dale. the aim is for the museum to become an artistic and educational hub for the region, expanding its range from exhibitions to seminars, design research initiatives, and more.

all images by paul clemence

blending scandinavian and brazilian influences

the architecture of zalszupin refers to both his scandinavian and brazilian influences, while blending its original 1960s features with the lush surrounding greenery. ‘it’s a house where [zalszupin] experimented a lot with different references, mixing them together, from traditional brazilian elements like the rough stucco wall treatments, to the scandinavian looking curved wood ceiling,’ explains ETEL CEO lissa carmona.

a narrow entrance serves as the discreet access point of the house, opening to a spacious living room with a wave-like pine ceiling, rustic ceramic flooring, and whitewashed walls. the interior presents a comprehensive sequence of spatial contractions and expansions, with low ceilings giving way to double-height spaces. meanwhile, a series of openings reveal unobstructed views of the tropical garden, while still preserving an overall feeling of shelter.

a record of jorge zalszupin’s life

zalszupin designed the house for himself and his family to live in, and thus had the freedom to experiment by combining a variety of multiple elements. as almost no interventions and renovations have been performed since its completion, the residence presents itself as a living record of the time when the late architect was still alive. in addition, his personal office is kept intact, offering a glimpse into his everyday life.

casa museo zalszupin is a center of reference, documentation, and dissemination of the architect’s extensive oeuvre, led by ETEL. the design brand has partnered with art gallery almeida & dale in order to keep this space alive, sparking a lively dialogue between zalszupin’s architecture and multiple other great names in the history of brazilian design and art.