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SAMUEL LAMAS INTERVIEWED FOR DESIGN DÉSIR
The traces of a Brazil that dreams
Samuel Lamas' work recovers the origins of Brazilian modernism
"A very pure and clean geometry," is how Samuel Lamas defines the "Carlos" bookcase project, the first piece of furniture he designed almost a decade ago. The initially unpretentious project gave rise to a career with more than a dozen international awards, including the prestigious "Prize design for funiture + lighting" from the Museum of Modern Art in New York (Moma).
Lightness and precision in the lines are a distinctive feature of the work, openly influenced by Brazilian modernism and referenced to the designer's city of origin, Brasília. Geometric shapes are combined with textures and colors to create a blend of the modern and the traditional. The result is an elaborate simplicity.
"Practically all my pieces have a common thread. All the elements are indispensable for their functioning. The structure is dimensioned to guarantee stability using a minimum of material. So this orientation, which ends up being sustainable, ends up conveying a light and simple aesthetic," says Samuel.
Origins
Samuel Lamas began studying architecture at the National University of Brasilia (Unb) in the early 2000s and finished his studies at the Università degli Studi di Roma 3. There he also worked with the renowned Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas, where he worked on projects for competitions.
"I always liked drawing. I liked music... I was interested in anything that involved sensitivity. Architecture came naturally to me and I had no other choice," he says. The path to design came with his return to Brasília and the search for a reconnection with the city.
Modernism
"When I returned to Brasília I wanted to be here and recognize myself here, I wanted the new apartment to be in tune with the city, like an extension of the city. To do this, I started looking for the identity of the original Brasília, both in the space and in the objects that came to Brasília at that time, from modernism," she says.
So began a search for the great masters of Brazilian modernism. A search for the Brazil that made Brasília, the bossa nova country that mixed samba and jazz, that made concrete curves, that created for the world without ceasing to be who it is.
This same country produced furniture pieces that marked an era. Samuel began to search for pieces on the market, at auctions, on the internet and in junkyards. The effort included dedication to restoration, understanding the materials and the best way to treat Jacaranda.
The success of the "Carlos" bookcase led to the production of more pieces, and recognition turned the experience into a craft. The geometric precision of the metal, the soft touch of the wood, leather and fabric create a work that is made with simplicity and contrast. And deep down it reminds us of an ancient dream of a civilization in the tropics, which sought to be universal without ceasing to be what it is.