Chaise Longue “Rio” by Oscar Niemeyer, Brazil, 1978

The restoration of this particular chair, originally owned by André Midani, a luminary of the Brazilian music industry, began with the reshaping and reassembly of its base using a specially crafted wooden mold. The disassembled base underwent structural corrections to ensure stability and precision. Following these adjustments, the surface was primed and sanded in three stages, preparing it for repainting. The application of three layers of acrylic matte paint, interspersed with careful polishing, restored the lounge to its original splendor, while maintaining its historical integrity.

Oscar Niemeyer, born in Rio de Janeiro in 1907, was a pioneering modernist architect known for his innovative use of curves. After graduating from the School of Fine Arts in 1934, he worked with Lucio Costa and Le Corbusier on the Capanema building project, shaping his design philosophy. Niemeyer gained international acclaim in the 1940s with projects like the Pampulha complex and later contributed to the design of Brasília, Brazil’s new capital. Exiled to France after the 1964 military coup, he continued to create significant works such as the Communist Party headquarters and the Maison de la Culture du Havre.