roca's canopy covered são paulo gallery rises as a cultural hub

Roca São Paulo Gallery blooms in Latin America’s biggest city

On Avenida Brasil, the sleek glass façade of the Roca São Paulo Gallery welcomes in practitioners who seek conversations on architecture, sustainability, and the greater design trade. Tucked away in Latin America’s largest metropolis, the lush green interior gives rise to a cultural venue and event space designed by architect Fernanda Marques. The gallery joins the Brazilian city to the network of renowned Roca galleries like Zaha Hadid’s in London; Francesc Rifé’s design in Shanghai; and Ma Yansong’s gallery in Beijing.

the Roca São Paulo Gallery is the Roca Group’s to its international network of galleries

all images courtesy of Roca

Founded in 1917, the acclaimed bathroom design company has led the market with a keen eye for design and attention to manufacturing, operating globally with a strong presence in Europe, India, China, and other regions. Dedicated to expanding its network further, the Spanish brand opens its seventh gallery in Latin America. The Roca Gallery project began in 2010 to encourage dialogue within the design sector. Each gallery invites visitors to explore exhibitions, debates, presentations, and the company’s latest product lines. With architect Fernanda Marques at the design helm, the space acts as a cultural landmark.

the lead architect on the project, Fernanda Marques, finds inspiration in the Atlantic Forest

As the São Paulo location’s architect, Fernanda Marques joins the ranks of Borja, Lucía and Carlos Ferrater (Roca Barcelona Gallery); Carlos Lamela (Roca Madrid Gallery); Carlos Ferruz (Roca Lisboa Gallery); Zaha Hadid (Roca London Gallery); Francesc Rifé (Roca Shanghai Gallery); and Ma Yansong (Roca Beijing Gallery). Leading the design of this new institution, Marques adds to her long list of prestigious recognitions, including the Red Dot Design Award, the iF Design Award, and the AD Awards.

‘The invitation to design the Roca São Paulo Gallery was a great honor. […] It meant having the opportunity to leave my mark on a project that invades the urban dimension, combining architecture, design, innovation and sustainability. It was also an opportunity to share my creative vision for a significant space in the city and to contribute to the promotion of knowledge and the meeting of professionals in my field.…,’ says Brazilian architect Fernanda Marques.

furniture in the gallery is curated by Marques

a showroom transforms into a design center

The 1,400 m² complex creates an environment that is both indoor and outdoor, urban and tropical, inviting and serene. Visitors find three zones within – Roca, Celite, and Incepa – each respectively representing the Roca group’s brands in Brazil. In addition to its function as a showroom, the gallery is enhanced by its capacity as a venue for design. With sweeping conference tables, couch-clad chatting zones, and outdoor seating – curated by Marques to represent both national and international talent – the dynamism of the environment fosters interaction among the building’s guests.

ample seating and inviting tables welcome dialogue

Floor to ceiling windows in the common area open to invite inside the lush, green exterior, channeling the spirit of the Atlantic Forest that served as inspiration for Marques. Merging the gallery with the garden, landscape designer Alex Hanazaki chose voluminous vegetation to add another dimension to the Roca São Paulo Gallery. Just outside the modern interiors, plants spring to life and frame the complex in color and texture.

interior and exterior spaces merge through the repeated use of greenery and wood beams

‘The city’s undeniable economic, social, and cultural significance, coupled with its prominent role in the fields of architecture and design, make São Paulo the epicenter of emerging trends,’ comments Roca’s Managing Director Roca Brasil, Sergio Melfi.

In its closeness to Jundiaí (located within the state of São Paulo), the gallery has a poetic, geographic tie to the company’s first factory. Additionally, this Brazilian city, with its active economy and creative energy, is a popular landing spot for creatives and experts within the sector. Combined, the urban sprawl and the Roca’s gallery act as a magnet of industry, attracting dialogue, talent and discussion to Avenida Brasil.

outdoor passageways guide guests around the complex