House Firm

Firma Casa is undergoing renovations with architectural design by Superlimão and artistic conception by the Campana Brothers. Creativity, flexibility, and innovation in the use of materials were the path taken by Superlimão in the renovation project of Firma Casa, which opened on October 25th in São Paulo. Firma Casa, founded in 1993 with its first design by Aurélio Martinez Flores, and without major changes since then, has undergone a significant overhaul of its original design. In addition to housing an art and design gallery with unique and limited-edition pieces, it also serves as a multi-brand showroom. Firma Casa's product mix includes globally recognized brands such as Zanotta, Cerruti-Baleri, Edra, Corsi, and Bernardaud. The portfolio also includes names such as Fernando and Humberto Campana, Aurélio Martinez Flores, Nada Se Leva, Jaqueline Terpins, Flavia Alves de Souza, and Thomas Eyck, as well as its partner, SuperLimão Studio. Superlimão was invited to participate in late 2008 when Sônia Diniz, owner of Firma Casa, decided to renovate the store and invited the Campana Brothers, gallery partners from the beginning, to participate. Due to their personal and professional affinity, the Campanas proposed that the project be carried out in conjunction with Superlimão, who had previously worked with Sônia on furniture development and also with Humberto Campana in his apartment. The change in Firma Casa's proposal was accompanied by the need for a structural renovation in which the building would support not only the store but also the gallery. To this end, a space capable of housing large-scale pieces was developed. In this context, the entire design concept was focused on maximizing the space's strength and flexibility. The Skeleton: Intersection of Strength and Flexibility Superlimão sought industrial-scale solutions for Firma Casa's new concept. The structural skeleton is fully exposed and serves the gallery's demanding flexibility. The project tour begins with the façade, which draws attention for its distinctive volume and innovative solutions. Based on the Campana Brothers' concept of covering the entire façade with snake plants, which evoke Brazilian folk culture and represent plants of power, the firm developed a metal mesh that completely encloses the façade. It houses approximately 2,500 bent aluminum pots, created by SuperLimão Studio specifically for the project, accommodating over 6,000 seedlings. These pots are practical for maintenance due to their lightweight and easy irrigation. The arrangement of the pots within the mesh also creates interesting effects, as daylight reflects off the façade and allows air to circulate close to the concrete, influencing the interior temperature and giving the solution a distinctive and sustainable architectural character. In the store window, pallet racks—typically used for large-scale inventory storage—were used as conventional shelving to house the gallery's exclusive pieces. Sturdy Industrial Structure A steel "slide" door, capable of opening wide enough for a forklift, connects the interior of the space. The gallery's interior floor, 18 cm thick and capable of supporting tons, is made of concrete, allowing for the entry of not only large but also heavy items. To support the exhibitions, Superlimão sourced magnets capable of safely supporting 100 kg to 350 kg at an industrial equipment fair. All of the project's beams remain exposed as they were at the beginning of the project, creating an interesting effect for the interior space seen from the entrance and reinforcing the industrial character of the design. Flexibility The interior space was decompartmentalized and segmented into two main areas: the gallery, with a ceiling height of approximately 6 m, and the store, which can also be expanded thanks to a large sliding door that separates the warehouse and can occasionally serve as a display area. SuperLimão designed an exposed metal grid of electrical profiles for the independent fixing and dimming of any lighting fixtures. The metal walls and structures also allow for the mounting of the exhibits, ensuring full use of the space and complementing the project's idea of an exposed and functional structure. Full Use of Materials The Portuguese mosaic, a characteristic of the flooring of buildings in the region, was fully utilized in the project. At the entrance and back of Firma Casa, it was reused as a substrate along with gravel to create a draining floor. To blend the mixture, a product, new to Brazil, was applied: Elastopave™, a special glue that can be used to join various types of materials, from BASF, a German multinational and ongoing partner of Superlimão. The floor displays a drainage characteristic similar to that of sand and contributes to the project's sustainable character. Furthermore, fragments of the Portuguese mosaic give shape to the fixed bar cabinet within a containment gabion in the showroom area. Cement mixers, ladders, and other pieces scavenged from scrap yards and used during the construction complete the space and also serve as displays for the new Firma Casa. It's worth taking a closer look: The bent aluminum vases, created by Superlimão, which line the entire storefront and clearly demonstrate the collaborative work between the Campana brothers' conception and the development of the Superlimão project. The retaining gabion, which forms the bar's permanent cabinet and is filled with fragments of the Portuguese mosaic flooring previously used on the gallery's sidewalk; The "Camarão" door, which opens wide enough for a forklift to enter the gallery; The polishing treatment designed to highlight the gravel floor, which can withstand the entry of a truck into the showroom; The magnets used to suspend display pieces, capable of supporting between 100 kg and 350 kg, which were found by Superlimão at an industrial solutions fair; On metal shelving (pallet racks), typically used for storage, visible in the gallery window and other areas of the store; On exposed metal grids with electrical profiles for the independent fixing and dimming of any lighting fixture.