Jean de Just, Ipanema's beach energy for interior design

Mar 25

Mar 25 Jean de Just, Ipanema's beach energy for interior design

PEOPLE, BRAZIL, RIO DE JANEIRO, ARCHITECTURE LOVER

Jean de Just is a French interior designer, living in Rio de Janeiro for 5 years…
He explains how Ipanema’s beach and Rio’s nature give him the energy to create… and relax!

What are you doing in Rio de Janeiro ?
if I have to explain my work in one sentence it will be: to realize the dreaming interior’s of my clients. Translate their wishes and thoughts to create a unique interior that suits them.

What’s your favorite part of your work ?
The moment you discover the place that you are going to transform… This very moment when you start having a thousand ideas in your head ! Then when you go back to the office and you translate this on the paper…

What brought you from Paris to Rio ?
The sun, the beach… No it’s a joke! It was a work opportunity 5 years ago. I came to Rio to build a hotel and decorate an apartment ... I received other proposals and I decided to stay and create my own office here.

How does Rio give you inspiration to create ?
Rio is magic, right? That’s why its nickname is “Cidade Maravilhosa” (Wonderful City).
Maybe it’s cliché, but just walking along the beach when I wake up, at 6.30am… I forget negativity and only see positivity.
And my other moment is around 7pm, I go to run on Rio’s Lagoon, the view is so magic (christ, nature, city), I can deeply relax.

How do you feel Rio ?
It is difficult to explain, as all cities have their own qualities and vices. For me who have lived in Paris and Hong Kong, here I learned "le lâcher prise", how to let it go…
Working is not the most important thing of your life. In Rio, we learn to enjoy life, time, friends, family. I also learned here to be more simple. It is relaxing.

How do you see Rio’s development?
Rio - and Brazil in general - is a cycle. The country evolves, then there is a crisis (economic, political), then it ‘s better, then a crisis again ... You never know what will happen tomorrow ... That's why Brazilian people are always happy ! Because there are always seeing hope, it could be better, or worse. That´s why you need to enjoy the day.

And now, every day I see new shops, restaurants, always more creative, with interesting architecture… It's great! But it takes a lot of time... Here people are very “fearful”, ”afraid”, they don’t want to take risks.

What are your favorite activities in Rio ?
BEACH and GYM !
The beach is a religion here. You have everything at the beach. You can eat, drink, buy newspapers, sunscreen, cigarettes, sunglasses, swimsuits ... and you have all type of food, sandwich, salad, cheese, fruits... The only thing you can’t do at the beach is sleeping.

Really, it’s always a show to go to the beach in Rio.
Brazilians go to the beach how we are going to a bar. It’s a meeting point for friend, family, couple...

What are your favorite places in Rio ?

My neighborhood ? Ipanema
I am living here. I love it because you are between the beach and the Lagoon, you have restaurants, shops, people all day. It’s my Rio!
After I also like Lapa the Friday night, Urca for the Peaceful place and view, Barra da Tijuca for the beach which never ends...

My beach? Ipanema, of course, for the diversity of people

My restautant ? Bira de Guaratiba, where you eat a traditional Brazilian dish, “moqueca” and you also have a very nice walk that takes you to empty beaches (praia do inferno, pedra da tartaruga)…

My mountain ? Os dois Irmãos (« the two brothers »)
This “mountain” is at the end of Leblon, you can climb to the top. And from there you have an amazing view over the "Zona Sul" and the sea...

My bay ? Guaratiba Bay
This place is magic, it’s at the end of Rio, 40 minutes drive from Ipanema…

My art center? Instituto Moreira Salles
It’s a small museum, an house of the fifties. Always good exhibitions. It is the first museum I visited in Brazil.
Address: R. Marquês de São Vicente, 476 - Gávea, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22451-040

My district ? Rio’s port
This place has been recently renovated in a good way. There you have plenty of museums, events…
For me this restoration shows that the city can transform itself.

My mall ? Shopping Leblon
it is a shopping center, you have everything food, cinema, shops,... it's part of the Brazilian culture to go to the mall.

What are your tips for creative people visiting Rio ?
Walk a lot and open your eyes ! Rio is a great mix, in every place you find something beautiful. For sure go to Lapa, at the Fabrica Behring (atelier, artists), walk in the street in Botafogo, Jardim Botânico. And the best thing is to walk along the beach from Leme to Leblon.

What is your Dream city ?
Barcelona. You have everything you need: culture, architecture, delicious food, beach, warm weather, shopping, a big city and the Spanish lifestyle : late diner and the nap!