Carmel Armchair - 1966

Sergio Rodrigues was a pioneering Brazilian architect and furniture designer whose work helped define modern Brazilian design. Known for his warm, tactile materials and relaxed forms, he shifted modernism away from an international aesthetic toward one deeply connected to Brazilian culture and everyday life.

Rodrigues studied architecture in Rio de Janeiro, graduating from the National Faculty of Architecture in the early 1950s, just as Brazilian modernism was gaining global attention. Although he began his career in architecture and interiors, he quickly turned to furniture as a way of expressing a distinctly Brazilian modern identity.

In 1955, he founded Oca, a furniture and interior design studio that became a cornerstone of modern Brazilian design. Through Oca, Rodrigues created pieces for homes, hotels, public buildings, and diplomatic spaces, embedding his design language into the fabric of contemporary Brazilian living. His work remains celebrated for its craftsmanship, cultural authenticity, and lasting influence on modern design.