Meet Jorge and Odaléa Barbosa, the couple who built the house where the 30th anniversary edition of CASACOR Rio will take place
Submitted at Feb 18, 2021, 7:53 AM
The two met on March 25, 1945, in Copacabana. At 17, she lived with her mother and grandmother in the neighborhood and had gone out to walk her little dog. At 25, Jorge was wandering the street looking for a nonexistent address – the result of a prank call made by acquaintances. The day after their first meeting, Jorge went to the beach across the street from the girl, hoping to meet her again there. And it worked out! Eleven months later – an engagement considered quick for the time – the two got married at Candelária Church. 
In 1964, the couple began construction of their pink mansion. It was a gift from Jorge to Odaléa, with many details of baroque architecture and works of sacred art , which she admired so much and which he acquired at auctions, churches, convents and farms that were about to be demolished. It took six years of work. Every detail was designed by Jorge, who was an engineer by trade and an architect-restorer by practice. But he was always accompanied by the architect Mário Freire , who was responsible for the construction. 
Once completed, the mansion became a haven for Rio's high society. On Sundays, Jorge and Odaléa would open the doors of the residence to receive guests for lunches and parties. In addition to being the setting for their romance, the residence was visited by celebrities such as the Kubitschek couple and comedian Agildo Ribeiro, among others. 
In June 2002, Jorge passed away, leaving the property to Odaléa. Without children, the couple had already planned the future of the property: an art foundation. This dream began to become a reality in 2015 when, while still alive, Odaléa donated the property and its entire collection to the Museum of Sacred Art in São Paulo. After CASACOR Rio , the site became home to the Brando Barbosa Institute. 
CASACOR Rio de Janeiro will take place from March 2nd to April 25th and will feature 57 professionals , including architects, interior designers and landscapers. There will be 38 spaces set up at the Brando Barbosa Residence. For the first time, the show will be hybrid, with an in-person version and a digital version, with videos and 3D tours available right here on the website ! Click here to secure your ticket.
