Today we went to architect and interior designer Erika Duarte’s office. Her office is uniquely designed with open air walkways between sections, and palm trees growing through the walkways. Both the interior and exterior are essential components of her design, as the interior is a blend of the historic architecture of the original building, with a modern aesthetic as the top layer. In return for us showing Erika our sketches, she agreed to show us her 20 or so sketchbooks going back to the first one she ever used. Looking through the books and seeing her start at a level similar to us and currently drawing images so good they belong in catalogs was inspiring.

Erika showed us a couple of buildings next door, one of which is still in construction, and it will be used for everything from art classes, to dance classes, to small exhibitions. In the back there was a vertical garden, which gave the building a natural feel. She also showed us a building across the street that was originally designed for her family, but has since decided to rent it to a marketing firm. It was similar in style to the others, with both the inside and outside being essential to using the full space. We climbed to the rooftop and got a beautiful view of the neighborhood, and the nearby Tijuaca forest. Sadly, as we left we didn’t take down the slide that she built in for her kids. Later that night, some of us went out to Rio’s first pre-carnaval celebration