Philia
Magazine
Stem Design
Stem is a design studio founded by Aman and Sugandhi, rooted in a shared sensitivity toward nature, materiality, and the emotional resonance of objects. Emerging from a deeply personal and intuitive process, the studio explores how everyday forms can carry memory, feeling, and quiet meaning within domestic spaces.
Working across lighting, sculpture, and functional objects, Stem approaches design as a slow and thoughtful practice shaped by instinct, craftsmanship, and storytelling. Using materials such as clay, paper, and found elements, each piece is developed through an emotional dialogue between form, texture, and atmosphere.
Defined by restraint and intentionality, Stem creates objects that are meant to endure both physically and emotionally. Their work reflects a belief that design should not only serve a function, but also accompany the rhythms of life with warmth, presence, and lasting significance.
ESTUDIO PROSA 5 Picks From Philia Collection
PROSA was created in 2021 by the couple Júlia Rovigo and Gabriel Pesca. An architect and a woodworker, respectively, this project emerged from their desire to combine their experiences and translate them into the design and execution of furniture.
PROSA is dedicated to extensive research and investigation of wood as a material. The studio revives knowledge and techniques from classic naval carpentry for the execution of its works, where strength and durability meet organic curves and forms.
All of their creations incorporate experimental elements in handling wood, seeking new ways to understand and explore its natural characteristics. Their products are made with a focus on nature, the people who inhabit it, and the future of the interaction between the two.
Andrea Fasanello (for Ricardo Fasanello)
Ricardo Fasanello (1930–1993) was a Brazilian designer celebrated for his innovative approach to furniture and industrial design. Born in São Paulo and later based in Rio de Janeiro, he combined a passion for engineering, craftsmanship, and experimentation to create a distinctive body of work defined by bold forms and technical ingenuity.
Blending artisanal methods with industrial processes, Fasanello developed furniture that balanced functionality with sculptural expression. Best known for his iconic fiberglass seating and conversation-oriented swivel chairs, his designs embody a uniquely Brazilian modernism characterized by fluid forms, material innovation, and timeless appeal.
Today, Fasanello remains one of the most influential figures in twentieth-century Brazilian design, admired for work that continues to feel remarkably contemporary.
Hanna Englund Picks From Philia Collection
Hanna Englund is a Swedish ceramic artist based in Rio de Janeiro. With a background in fashion and product design across Stockholm and Shanghai, she turned to ceramics after moving to Brazil, drawn by the meditative and tactile nature of working with clay.
Her sculptural practice merges Scandinavian restraint with the organic vitality of Rio. Inspired by the human body and tropical landscapes, Englund creates hand-built and cast works that explore form, texture, and materiality. Often incorporating molds made from tropical fruits, her pieces celebrate the shapes and rhythms of Brazilian culture while maintaining a timeless and understated sensibility. Working from her Rio studio, she produces sculptures, lighting, and vessels distinguished by their raw elegance, material honesty, and enduring presence.
Estudio Prosa
PROSA was created in 2021 by the couple Júlia Rovigo and Gabriel Pesca. An architect and a woodworker, respectively, this project emerged from their desire to combine their experiences and translate them into the design and execution of furniture.
PROSA is dedicated to extensive research and investigation of wood as a material. The studio revives knowledge and techniques from classic naval carpentry for the execution of its works, where strength and durability meet organic curves and forms.
All of their creations incorporate experimental elements in handling wood, seeking new ways to understand and explore its natural characteristics. Their products are made with a focus on nature, the people who inhabit it, and the future of the interaction between the two.
Studio Gaïa 5 Picks From Philia Collection
Studio Gaïa is a French design studio founded by Liza Mimouni and Deborah Elfassy in 2021. Rooted in a shared passion for craftsmanship and material exploration, the studio creates collectible furniture and objects that celebrate the natural beauty of stone, ceramic, and mineral surfaces through refined forms and meticulous detailing.
Working with exceptional materials sourced from skilled artisans, Studio Gaïa develops made-to-order pieces distinguished by timeless elegance, thoughtful craftsmanship, and a contemporary approach to natural materiality.
Estudio Orth
Estudio Orth is a multidisciplinary furniture and interior design studio based in São Paulo. Founded in 2018, it is led by the couple Seba Orth (designer) and Luísa Bianchetti (visual artist), who have been guiding the studio from its foundation.
With a maximalist palette of materials in service of a minimalist language, its work presents a sculptural approach to functional items such as lighting fixtures, seating, tables, rugs, and everyday accessory objects. Its practice engages with themes such as symbolism and brutalism, exploring forms that move between organicity and rationality.
All pieces are meticulously handcrafted by master artisans, one at a time. In the creative process, ancestral techniques such as metal casting, solid wood carpentry, and the use of exotic Brazilian stones lend material identity and maturity to the products.
