Housed in a late colonial mansion among the verdant hills of Rio’s bohemian Santa Teresa neighbourhood, the newly opened Casa Marques compliments its heritage and surrounding vistas with a good dose of modernity that mixes local design icons and fresh street art names. ‘We wanted to keep things local and celebrate Brazilian tradition in many different ways,’ says Jeannine Marques, French-Carioca co-owner of the intimate 12-room property.
So along with her husband Louis, she started collecting the latest from the who’s who of the local street art scene; bold, vivid works by Gais or fun, comic-book offerings by Toz, add visual interest to a understated background of sleek furnishings and iconic pieces by Sergio Rodrigues.
Come sundown, drift up to the rooftop – past a bold mosaic piece by local studio Coletivo Muda – for a drink with spectacular views of Guanabara Bay and the statue of Christ the Redeemer.
