Cia. Marítima store by Marcelo Rosenbaum

The Cia. Marítima brand – mind you, the ‘Cia.’ bit stands for ‘companhia’ or company in plain English – was founded in 1990, and has since expanded exponentially across, operating a sizeable retail network across its native Brazil. The women’s swimwear brand has no less than 24 four standalone stores in São Paulo, but seized the opportunity to open another retail space on rua Oscar Freire, undoubtedly the city’s leading shopping artery. The Cia. Marítima boutique occupies a newly built, two-storey structure with a total retail space of 592 sqm. (6,372 sq.ft.). The interior design, created by São Paulo-based architect and designer Marcelo Rosenbaum, has a sustainable edge, and incorporates an extensive palette of natural materials. The ground floor sees flooring comprising large shards of recycled Espírito Santo granite, paired with two expansive walls clad in rammed earth.

The upper floor rests on large wooden beams, but is also recessed, allowing daylight to permeate the ground floor. The cash register, warehouse, and elevator are concealed by wall of rammed earth, while a floor-to-ceiling wooden frame covered in palm leaf straw mats made by a group of artisan women from the northern Piauí region, does the very same for the four fitting cubicles. The use of this material signals a connection between Cia. Marítime and this group of artisan which thrives on the management of palm trees, promoting a positive impact on biodiversity resources. A sturdy timber staircase leads to the light-filled upper floor, which comes with an outdoor terrace, and can be used as additional retail space or for events. The new Cia. Marítime store carries the brand’s full range of swimwear, apparel, bags and accessories. © superfuture