This is the year of Italy in Brazil. A relationship that will continue during the World Cup of soccer in 2014 and the Olympic Games of 2016, which will be showcases for all the efforts and works of modernization in this country.

Brazil, episode two. After the first special issue in July/August 2002, once again we concentrate on this immense country. Why? First of all because in the wake of the event Momento Italia- Brasil (October 2011-June 2012), this is the year of Italy in Brazil. A relationship that will continue during the World Cup of soccer in 2014 and the Olympic Games of 2016, which will be showcases for all the efforts and works of modernization in this country. This special issue focuses, of course, on Design. On home-grown architectural design of extraordinary impact, in the works of the country’s great protagonists (from Oscar Niemeyer to Ruy Ohtake, Arthur Casas to Bernardes Jacobsen, Isay Weinfeld to Marcio Kogan), which reinforces the value of good living while paying close attention to environmental issues.

Or product design, from the works of the brothers Fernando and Humberto Campana to the young, promising talents of Rio, capable of focusing on the specificities of Brazilian creativity, which in spite of globalization conserves pride in traditions and cultural roots. We also compare Euro-centric design with an anthropologically different approach, from So Paulo to Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia to Belo Horizonte and the cities of the south. We can observe growing relationships between international designers and local companies, in a market that is growing at a rapid pace (with estimates of economic growth of 5.5% for 2011). While local production is of good quality, Italian design manufacturers also have their eye on the potential of the Brazilian market (in spite of the problem of customs charges, which make imports costly).

This issue will have an exceptional presentation, in Brasilia on 6 December, at the Italian Embassy completed in 1977 and designed by Pier Luigi Nervi and in So Paulo on 8 December, at the Pinacoteca do Estado, designed by Paulo Mendes da Rocha.

B&B ITALIA

Kartell

Aster

Artemide

MOROSO

Minotti

Molteni & C

MAGIS

Cappellini

moooi

Vitra