Mussum's Bar

With the mission of bringing the imagination of one of Brazilian culture's most charismatic characters to life, Superlimão was chosen to design the architecture of Bar do Mussum. Barra da Tijuca, in Rio de Janeiro (the hometown of Antônio Carlos Bernardes Gomes – the famous Mussum), is the bar's address, and the entire ambiance evokes the many facets of this multi-talented artist: comedian, samba artist, musician, singer, composer, and total slapstick. Being a bar and considering its honoree, beer could not help but be a striking element. Right at the entrance, Mussum welcomes visitors by handing out a bottle of his favorite drink, "cevadis juice," in a backlit, fresco-like ceiling. To complete the entrance to Mussum's paradise, the main counter was specially designed to resemble a large Americano cup filled with beer, complete with a head. The office team conducted studies and tests to ensure the proportions were identical to those of the glass, a bar classic. The hue applied to the glass was the result of studies by Atelie Benini, who studied Cerveja Cacildis, a brand that also pays homage to Mussum, to achieve the ideal color. LED lighting highlights the bubbles, further enhancing the sensation of a freshly poured glass. "Mé," another affectionate nickname for the Trapalhão beer, is represented throughout the space. This is because a "mé tree," the character's long-held dream, has become a reality—at least in the bar. Stems and trunks embrace the entire store, scattering their fruits throughout the space—in this case, beer cans. The chosen color has a reason: it recalls the large copper tap seen in "Mágico de Oróz," a classic Trapalhões film. This reference also appears in the draft beer tap. Other memorabilia displayed throughout the room make the bar a sort of Mussum museum. His family donated original material from the past, while old TV sets show excerpts from episodes and films of the Trapalhões and performances by Originais do Samba, a traditional samba group Mussum was a member of as Carlinhos da Mangueira. Instagrammable elements complete the ambiance, such as the sheep placed in profile on the mirrors. The reflection duplicates the image and completes the animal's body, which says in neon: "mé!" To enhance the bar atmosphere that Bar do Mussum required, an outdoor area was essential. Located in an open-air shopping mall, the bar faces a boulevard. There, visitors enjoy the outdoors, especially during samba sessions. Beer crates were used as furniture, along with lightweight tables and chairs, making it easy to adapt the bar to the changing needs of each day.