Photographs by Eliseu Cavalcante, Courtesy of Espasso

Espasso, the design showroom and retailer of modern Brazilian furniture, has opened its new Miami gallery. Tucked in an airy 2,000-square-foot loft-like space within Miami Ironside in the historic Upper Eastside, the spacious gallery marks the first opening for the brand in Miami, which has locations in New York, LA, and London.

At a time when Miami gathers more attention as an outpost for design and architecture, Espasso introduces a sleek new perspective, through some of Brazil’s most acclaimed designers, including Oscar Niemeyer, Zanini de Zanine, Carlos Motta and and Jorge Zalszupin. Renowned for organizing highly-curated exhibitions of furniture pieces and design objects, the Miami showroom’s pared back space showcases the unique design and craftsmanship of its offerings.

On the ground floor, Oscar Niemeyer’s classic scroll bench, handcrafted from black-lacquered wood and caning, sits at the entrance, evoking the designer’s modern architecture with its sinuous, scrolling silhouette.  It is a standout piece. Others include the Longo bench by Zanine made from a single reclaimed Ipê wood column and Guará, a mid-century style armchair designed by Carlos Motta that is handcrafted from a rich, peroba rosa wood and finished with beautiful leather upholstery. On the second floor, Jorge Zalszupin’s stunning, origami-inspired 1962 Petalas table is the focus of a sitting area, complimented by the designer’s Adriana armchair and Giuseppe Scapinelli armchairs from the 1950s.

The collection in total fits well with Miami’s aesthetic and is on trend with the city’s current focus on organic modernism – a style of design and architecture that evolved in the 1940s and 1950s that promotes harmony between the natural world and designed objects and spaces.

Committed to conserving and promoting Brazil’s design heritage, since 2002, Espasso has been presenting a mix of Brazil’s mid-century masters and emerging designers. It has presented the first solo US exhibitions of Isay Weinfeld, Carlos Motta and Claudia Moreira Salles and showcased contemporary designers Etel Carmona and Arthur Casas.

Nestled in the leafy district of Miami Ironside, Espasso joins a cadre of international designers, art galleries, boutique retailers, and design firms in a distinct, up-and-coming area, accented by public spaces and outdoor dining.

Espasso founder, Sao Paulo native Carlos Junqueira says, “We are very excited to be opening our new gallery and showroom in Miami and are looking forward to bringing the very best of Brazilian design, both past and present, to this vibrant location at Ironside.”

Espasso
Miami Ironside
7580 NE 4th Ct #102 | Miami