Recife
Where my eye was born, before I knew it was one.
Recife is a city shaped by water. The ocean, the rivers, the bridges and the reefs that gave the city its name are always present. Growing up around that landscape makes you almost take its beauty for granted — until you leave and realise how unusual it actually is.
What I notice: the old centre and its Dutch traces, colourful façades, churches, bridges, tiled houses and streets that carry several versions of the city at once. Then, not far away, the landscape completely takes over — reefs, warm water, coconut trees and an endless tropical coastline.
There is something beautifully imperfect about Recife. History, nature and everyday life overlap without being overly curated. It taught me very early that places become interesting through their layers, not despite them.