At CASACOR Bahia, sustainability also means preserving what already exists traduzido por: OPENROUTER

Before any new material entered the scene, a significant part of sustainability at CASACOR Bahia 2026 began with a simpler decision: keeping what already existed. In the 32nd edition of the show, set up at Casa Nossa Senhora das Mercês, in Salvador, several architects chose to preserve original structures, finishes, and elements of the historic mansion, rather than replacing them — a choice that dialogues directly with another front of the show, the use of natural, renewable, and low-environmental-impact materials.

Preserving what already exists

Marlon Gama Arquitetura - Marlon Gama = Vik Muniz +55DESIGN. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Denilson Machado, do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)

The environmental perspective runs through the show at different scales, starting with the decision to occupy an existing historic heritage building. In the Espaço de Convivência, by +55 Design with Marlon Gama Arquitetura, the office chose to make the most of the existing structure, with targeted intervention and the lowest possible construction impact — an argument that gains weight given the fact that Brazil generates about 106.3 million tons of construction waste per year, according to Abrecon's 2025 sector survey. All production of the project was concentrated within a 3-kilometer radius of the show, reducing travel and carbon footprint, and the wood used in the furniture has FSC certification.

Carol Barreto - Travessia - Restaurante a Taberna. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Camila Santos/CASACOR)

This logic of preservation was repeated at various points in the mansion, especially in the original floors. In the Lounge Escarlate, by Anete Bacelar, Celeste Leão, and Pedro Mahcario, the scenic lighting highlights the restored original floor. In the Casa Bem Vivida Electrolux, Wesley Lemos kept the original flooring. In the Lounge Entre Camadas, by Dayse Pellegrini and Michele Wharton, the original floor was kept with the marks of time, and the bamboo grove was replanted from another space, a café in Corredor da Vitória. In the restaurant Travessia, A Taberna, Carol Barreto preserved the floor and walls with marks of time. In addition, Carol worked with sisal rope, natural fibers, ceramics, water-based paints with low emission of volatile organic compounds, LED lighting, and high-efficiency equipment.

Neto Cunha Arquitetura - Loft Desígnio. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Bia Nauiack/CASACOR)

Other projects went beyond the floor and kept entire structures. In Nero & Bianco, Rodrigo Cassieri preserved existing woodwork, ceiling, and wooden floor, and designed the space to take advantage of natural cross-ventilation, eliminating the need for air conditioning. In the restaurant Soho, Paula Risério and Marco Reis kept the exposed bricks of the original construction — a feature that also appears in the kitchen of the Loft Desígnio, by Neto Cunha. In the loft CasaCura-Qualivida, Milena Saraiva kept the original structure of the building, the centuries-old exposed block wall, and the ceiling with the original wooden floor structure.

Bruna Dória | BD Interiores - Casa Vitalina. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Denilson Machado, do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)

Two projects went further and treated reversibility as a method. In Casa Vitalina, by BD Interiores, Bruna Dória found a wooden shelf that belonged to the school in the Casarão das Mercês storage room, restored the piece and gave it a new identity with water-based acrylic paint, without solvents, preserving the wood for future reuse. The click vinyl flooring was installed over the existing tile without glue, so it can be removed and reused at the end of the show while the tile returns to the original reading of the projects; the natural stone countertop was also set without gluing, allowing disassembly. The projects was designed and executed in 40 days.

Lab IV EBA/UFBA - Coord.: Bruna Dória - Sala de Imprensa Quitanda. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Denilson Machado, do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)

At LABIV, from the School of Fine Arts of UFBA, also coordinated by Bruna Dória, the shelves were designed in a modular system of four independent modules, and the mezzanine — designed in partnership with Felipe Cotrim and executed in reforestation eucalyptus — uses joints as the main construction method, without permanent glues, so it can be disassembled and fully reused.

Natural, renewable and low-impact materials

Dinah Lins - Varanza Raízes Igui. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Denilson Machado, do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)

At Varanda Raízes iGUi, Dinah Lins brought together eucalyptus biriba, cumaru decking, reuse of the existing flooring, preservation of the plank ceiling, LED lighting, water-based paints and drywall walls — a system that reduces waste generation.

Wesley Lemos - Casa Bem Vivida Electrolux. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Denilson Machado, do MCA Estúdio/CASACOR)

Wesley Lemos signs the Wura armchair, his first creation focused on body use, made of woven rush using the vernacular technique, with a carbon steel structure and cotton velvet upholstery, presented in three sizes to accommodate different heights.

Milena Saraiva Arquitetura e Interiores - Casacura-Qualivida - Loft Regenerativo. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Camila Santos/CASACOR)

At CasaCura-Qualivida, Milena Saraiva started from neuroarchitecture and biophilia for a curatorship in which each material fulfills a function: copper for its antimicrobial properties, linen, Bege Bahia marble for thermal stability and clay as a natural humidity regulator — all with priority given to design and production from Salvador and region, which reduces the logistical footprint.

Joia Piscinas Biológicas | Daiane Reis - Jardim de Oração. Projeto da CASACOR Bahia 2026. (Camila Santos/CASACOR)

In the Mãe Terra bathroom, by Bia Nery, Flacy Andrade and Michelle Araújo, clay, stone and wood shape the materiality. Minha Garagem, by NN Arquitetos, integrates water and vegetation into a sustainable proposal, and the Jardim de Oração, by Daiane Reis, has as its central element an ornamental pond with a biological system that eliminates the need for conventional chemical treatment.

traduzido por: OPENROUTER