For less than a year, the new Casa Marques hotel located in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil has opened its doors in the heart of Santa Teresa, the favorite area of ​​artists.

  • Photo: DR
Between the breathtaking view of the Sugarloaf, the Illuminated statue of Christ the Redeemer, that of the city of Rio and its tropical mountains around, its location is in itself a favorite!

This elegant “guest house” with the air of an art gallery was thought by a young Franco Brazilian duo Jeannine Marques and Louis Harang who settled in Brazil in 2012 with the desire to buy a house to transform it into a space combining architecture, art and design.

“At the start of 2014, we fell in love with the view and the building that now houses the Casa Marques. Being born and raised in the Santa Teresa neighborhood also motivated our choice » says Jeannine.

The Casa Marques was imagined by the Brazilian architectural firm Intown Arquitetura, which was able to preserve the facade of the main house, the wooden staircases, restore the original windows and doors in Sylvestre pine. The annex building is a modern and minimalist construction placed in the extension which blends perfectly with the bucolic atmosphere which characterizes so well the district of Santa Teresa.

The decoration was thought by the owners. "We wanted from the start a modern and rustic place while preserving the contemporary and minimalist side" said Jeannine.

The atypical DNA of the Casa Marques hotel is to offer and promote Brazilian street art by promoting their works. "We want to introduce our clients to young artists from the Brazilian contemporary scene, some of whose treet-artists are highly reputed" explains Louis.

In the rooms or in the common areas, guests can appreciate, among others, the works of Toz, Tinho, Marcio SWK, Bragga, Gais, Antônio Bokel or ColeHvo Muda. As for the interior design of the house, it is marked with the seal of the most famous Brazilian signatures: Sergio Rodrigues, Jader Almeida and Carlos Motta.

Casa Marques is also its infinity pool with its breathtaking view of the Sugarloaf, its sun loungers and parasols placed in front of the cocktail bar!

Cooking lessons, samba lessons, discovery of Brazilian Indian ethnicities, Street Art, possibility of purchasing works dispersed in the hotel ... are the little extras of La Casa Marques.

Quite a successful bet for Jeannine and Louis who welcome their guests themselves by offering them secret addresses to visit a unique and little-known Rio!

To know more : casamarquesrio.com