SERGIO RODRIGUES

“Recognizing that the furniture in Brazil was lacking the national identity achieved in architecture by luminaries Oscar Niemeyer, Lúcio Costa and their colleagues, Brazilian architect and furniture designer Sergio Rodrigues (1927 - ) founded OCA Industries in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro in 1956 … a brand that for two decades was the hallmark for modern furniture in Brazil. He took recourse to traditional materials such as leather, eucalyptus and the wood of the Jacaranda tree. To his tribute Rodrigues received first place award at the Concorso Internazionale del Mobile (1961) as well as inclusion in the permanent collection of MOMA in New York for his Mole armchair. His overt passion for wood led to create a versatile modular architecture system that permits assembly of the most simple constructions as well as highly complex buildings. Among Rodrigues’ many projects his most notable include the Brazilian Embassy in Rome, the Universidade de Brasilia, the Palacio des Arcos, the Teatro Nacionale in Brasilia and the headquarters for Editora Bloch in Rio.” Certain reissue designs are produced today by Classicon. His vintage designs can be sourced internationally at fine dealers and auction houses.

related links:
http://www.sergiorodrigues.com.br/
http://www.1stdibs.com/
http://www.classicon.com/

images: (click on images to enlarge)
Sergio Rodrigues on Mole armchair for Classicon (top)
Alex dining/center table for OCA, Brazil c1960s (2nd)
Diz armchair for Classicon (3rd)
Mocho Banco (milk stool) for OCA, Brazil c1960s (4th)
Jacaranda daybed for OCA, Brazil c1960s (bottom)