Drawing inspiration from french architecture and the world of Marie Antoinette’s court, Rodra steps beyond his comfort zone to create an immersive and imaginative dining experience
In his second participation at CASACOR São Paulo, architect Rodra Cunha, founder of RODRAARQ, presents “Fantasy at the table”. Inspired by this year’s theme, “Mind and Heart,” the project creates a sensory narrative woven from memory, affection, and imagination. Drawing inspiration from the visual universe of Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, the space offers an original interpretation of 18th-century French court aesthetics through a contemporary, playful, and refined lens. Here, Rococo moves beyond a literal reference to become a language of lightness, delicacy, and subtle provocation. CASACOR São Paulo runs from June 2 through August 9 at Parque da Água Branca in São Paulo.
At 45m², the dining room unfolds as a setting where time seems suspended. Colors, textures, and bespoke elements designed by Rodra himself create an atmosphere that moves seamlessly between the dreamlike and the tangible. At its center, a table designed by the architect serves as the project's focal point, not merely as a functional piece, but as an architectural gesture that organizes the space and invites gathering. More than an object, the table represents a pause. Because, at its essence, the dining room has never been solely about dining. It is about presence, connection, and the moments that emerge when time slows down. “The dining room is a place of exchange and presence. A space where thought slows down and affection takes shape,” says the architect.
The ceiling takes on a leading role, reinterpreting classical French ornamentation through a contemporary lens. Boiserie detailing on the doors and baseboards reinforces this narrative, while a glass chandelier suspended above the table introduces brightness and lightness to the composition, evoking the sophistication of the period. Keeping with the bold and distinctive approach that defines the architect’s work, by Kamy developed a bespoke piece at Rodra’s request: a contemporary interpretation of the Aubusson rug, a style traditionally found in French royal palaces from the 16th century onward. The result is a dialogue between past and future, filtered through the present-day perspective of an architect known for his irreverence and creative curiosity.
As a counterpoint, the project incorporates subtle references to Rio Grande do Norte, the architect’s home state in northeastern Brasil. Hand-drawn motifs and elements inspired by his roots appear delicately throughout the space, creating a dialogue between the French imaginary and the affective memories of northeastern Brasil a recurring theme throughout Rodra’s body of work. Natural light, filtered through the large window, reveals a second layer of the project: a more intimate setting where classic armchairs intertwine with contemporary pieces, creating a subtle transition between fantasy and reality, memory and the present.
The art curation follows and enriches this narrative, with carefully selected works that deepen the sensory dimension of the project and expand the overall experience. Each element contributes to the creation of an environment that goes beyond representing an aesthetic it constructs an atmosphere. After years of silence, the space speaks once again. Minimalism fulfilled its role: it organized, refined, and created room to breathe. But now, there is a desire for more. More gesture. More layers. More presence.
The project revisits the heart—an ancestral symbol—and translates it into materiality, form, and atmosphere. The result is an environment that balances rigor and delicacy, tradition and experimentation, creating an experience that extends beyond the visual and into the emotional.
Fantasy at the table emerges at this moment of transition, where excess is no longer perceived as noise but embraced as a language of expression. Above all, it is an invitation: to observe, to slow down, and to inhabit space with intention and presence. It is architecture that occupies rather than disappears.
Team:
Architects: Rodra Arquitetura
Engineers: Al Engenharia
Woodwork: Ama Marcenaria
Photographer: MCA Estúdio - Denilson Machado
Materials Used:
Antiquário Por Luis
Azol Art
Bella Iluminação
Bernardino Gesso
Branco Casa
Brastemp
By Kamy
Coral
Dagmar Saboya Escritório De Arte
Dpot
Duratex
FastFrame
Marília Bulhões Art
Marmoraria Multiformas
MG Box Esquadrias
Mike Álvares
Mocoterapia
Neon 3 estações
Ponto On Automação
PORTO SERVIÇO
Quickstep
SABESP
Uniflex
