The rise and rise of Brazilian design with Jig. Plus: touring the Rietveld Schröder House in Utrecht.
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This episode of Monocle on Design explores the global resurgence of Brazilian design through a visit to Jig, a new Brazilian furniture gallery in London's Soho, co-founded by architect Richard Penman and design strategist Grace Nemeth. The hosts discuss how Brazilian design blends modernist roots with contemporary innovation, emphasizing cultural diversity, craftsmanship, and a unique fusion of heritage and modernity. The conversation highlights key designers like Gustavo Bittencourt, Umberto da Mata, Alex Hocker, and Ronald Sassoum, whose works reflect Brazil’s multicultural identity and material experimentation. The episode then transitions to the Netherlands, where contributing editor Sheena Rossiter tours the iconic Rietveld Schröder House in Utrecht—a UNESCO World Heritage site and a three-dimensional manifesto of the De Stijl movement. The house, designed by Gerrit Rietveld for Tru Schröder, exemplifies radical minimalism, modular functionality, and spatial transformation, challenging visitors to rethink how they live. The episode closes with reflections on how both Brazilian and De Stijl design continue to influence contemporary aesthetics, blending warmth, innovation, and ideological clarity.
Brazilian design is experiencing a global moment, blending modernist heritage with contemporary, diverse, and sustainable practices.
Jig in London serves as a cultural bridge, showcasing Brazilian designers who reflect the country’s multicultural identity and innovative material use.
The Rietveld Schröder House demonstrates how minimalist architecture can be deeply functional, with movable walls, multi-use furniture, and daily spatial reconfiguration.
Both Brazilian and De Stijl design emphasize ideology, material honesty, and a human-centered approach to space.
Design movements thrive when they balance tradition with reinvention, as seen in the enduring relevance of mid-century Brazilian modernism and De Stijl principles.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction: The Essence of Design and Style
The episode opens with a reflection on what defines style—whether through minimalism, maximalism, or ideological honesty—and introduces the theme of design as a tool for connection and quality of life.
Salone del Mobile Preview and Design Trends
“I think anytime people are touching any sort of literature in public, they should have to wear gloves. You know, that feeling of the safety card in the back of an airline seat?”
Brazilian Design at Jig Gallery, London
“You really have to work hard to live here. You have to think about what you need, how you want to live. You have to redesign the space every day.”
The Rietveld Schröder House: A Living Manifesto of De Stijl
“The house is largely based on the distel aesthetic, which is Dutch for the style.”
Closing Reflections and Global Design Connections
The episode concludes with reflections on how Brazilian design and De Stijl both challenge conventional living, emphasizing adaptability, identity, and the enduring power of design to shape human experience.
“You really have to work hard to live here. You have to think about what you need, how you want to live. You have to redesign the space every day.”
“She sold everything. She wanted a simple space that didn't constrain her. Walls that could slide in and out, and windows that could open outwards to create more space with nature.”
“The house is largely based on the distel aesthetic, which is Dutch for the style.”
Hosts
Guests
Rietveld Schröder House
other
Jig
other
Monocle on Design
media
Grace Nemeth
person
Gerrit Rietveld
person
Richard Penman
person
De Stijl
other
Sheena Rossiter
person
Tru Schröder
person
Natalie Dubois
person
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