Neorustica furniture inspired by shanty towns scrap wood

This collection of boldly colored furniture looks rustic, and that’s the point. Designer Brunno Jahara wanted to infuse them with the visuals of Brazil’s shanty towns, for which he named each piece. They respond, in particular, to the urban migration of rural dwellers seeking (though not always finding) a better life in the country’s cities.

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Neorustica furniture inspired by shanty towns

Paint forms a core design element of each of these objects in the ‘Neorustica’ set. In some cases (such as the interesting cabinet design pictured above), every recycled slat is given its own bright hue before being assembled into the final furniture piece.

Neorustica-furniture-inspired-by-shanty-towns-stool

In other instances, white is used to highlight chipped and worn surfaces, which show up stark and dark against the glossy, light-reflecting coating.

Neorustica furniture inspired by shanty towns table

Selective scraping forms artistic patterns that could be mistaken for natural wear but are beautiful (even being abstract) to the point of being evidently crafted – particularly when placed atop naturally-finished legs.

Neorustica furniture inspired by shanty towns detail

Modern joinery connects the parts of each bench, chair or cabinet, creating a curious interplay between old chipped boards and new metal fixtures. Again, there is something of Brazil in this choice – modernized developments sitting next to impromptu forms of spontaneous and low-tech urban developments.

Neorustica-furniture-inspired-by-shanty-towns-cabinet

More from the designer

“Each design crafted out of rough wood, the slates are carefully painted in bright colors making every piece unique and full of character due to the natural texture of aged wood. The result is bridging the distance between object and user, by inviting one to touch and feel the texture of the pieces.”

“The pieces have names such as Vidigal, Rocinha, Dona Marta, Tuiuti, Caricó, Vila Canoa, Uribu and Pavão. They are built with a feel of improvisation, with low tables and dining tables in two sizes, a vertical and a horizontal cabinet, a compact desk with a long drawer, and a side table in two heights.”