Since 2000, Carla Juaçaba has developed her independent practice of architecture and research based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her office is currently engaged in both public and private projects, focusing on housing and cultural programs.


As an undergraduate student, she worked with the architect Gisela Magalhães of the Niemeyer’s generation, mostly in the area of exhibitions related to the Brazilian native arts and historical museums.

During her first year after college, she worked jointly with another architect Mario Fraga on the project named “Atelier House.” Following that, a series of projects have been conceived such as the “Rio Bonito house” (2005), the “Varanda House” (2007), the “Minimum House” (2008), “Santa Teresa House” in its final stage (2012), and a couple of exhibition designs.

Current works include the ephemeral pavilion conceived with the senior scenographer and theater director Bia Lessa, “Humanidade2012” for Rio+20, the recent international meeting held in Rio de Janeiro; Children's Room; and Hospice for the "Foundation of Cancer" in Rio de Janeiro.

Carla Juaçaba is constantly a part of the academic and teaching realms, as well as research studies, lectures, biennales, exhibitions and recently was the Jury at BIAU Bienal Ibero Americana in Madrid (2012). She won the first edition of the international prize ArcVision Women and Architecture.

Her work is focused on an intrinsic issue of the discipline: the poetics of tectonics, and its expressive potentiality. As well as a concern about the site in many aspects: as a cultural continuity and a phenomenological perception.