CASA HISTORY
In its previous life this century-old farmhouse housed numerous families over the years at the small rural town of Cubas in Minas Gerais state, before being carefully dismantled and transported by truck to its new home in the middle of the rainforest where Wilbert Das and his team slowly rebuilt it in a process better described as real life jigsaw puzzle.
The name comes from its original color, still preserved on the large braúna wood beams that frame the house and on its windows and doors. Anything that is not blue marks new aditions to the otherwise intact structure of cedar and canella wood floorboards. Internal walls were opened up and their wood used to sculpt furniture and decor like the living room sofa and kitchen cabinets topped by Brazilian marble. Clay walls impossible to be transported became glass walls that both invite light in and offer perfect views of the surrounding rainforest.
A new addition, the swiming pool is encrusted with amber river stones and strategically placed as to reflect the sunset that bathes the reclaimed cumaru wood pool deck in gold.
DESIGN
The paneled wood wall that divides the bedroom and living room is carved with tropical motifs by long-time collaborator indigenous Pataxó craftsmen Rosivaldo, aptly nicknamed "Woodpecker". The 9 panels are independent which create different artworks depending on its configuration.
River reeds from nearby Rio Trancoso are woven into a hanging lamp by the sofa upholstered in vintage Dutch, hemp army tent fabric with patterns that spell out "Maré" in the marine flag alphabet.
Creations from a 2020 collabration project with Casa Vogue Brasil addorn the house, like a ceramic artwork of 3 vases ‘eternally connected’ by a chain of glazed ceramic beads designer by Peter Kempkens; and the Paz Chair designed by Wilbert Das as an homage to the olive branch symbol on the iconic Trancoso's São Joao Batista church.
To the left is hanging a ceramic plate by local artist Calazans, one of the original members of Brazil’s counter-culture movement to settle in Trancoso in the 1970’s and 80’s.
