New chapter for architect and author

Describing herself as relaxed, Brazilian architect, designer and author Miriam Gurgel is proud to call Rockingham home.

The avid tennis player and talented painter was recently awarded third for the best coffee book in the world by Gourmand International.

Born in Sao Paulo, Ms Gurgel studied hard to become a successful architect, working two jobs and even selling her car to go on an exchange trip to America at 21.

She then went on to work on projects in the Brazilian favelas and opened her own office before turning to writing.

“When I was growing up my father said: ‘I don’t have money to give you things, but I do have money to put things into your mind — if I give you knowledge, you can never lose it’,” she said.

After moving to Australia 16 years ago, Ms Gurgel began writing Brazilian architecture books that are now used throughout the country’s universities.

More recently, she worked on a project that melded two of her passions in a book entitled Coffee and Design.

“I looked for coffee places that represented something and gave a sense of belonging to a group, analysing how it worked as a space,” Ms Gurgel said.

The book showcases coffee shops throughout the world, from Melbourne to the Czech Republic, and was awarded third prize for the best coffee book in the world by Gourmand International last month.

“I enjoy what I do and I am what I am,” Ms Gurgel said. “The way that I write my books is how I talk — it’s simple and easy.”

A well-known professional in Brazil, she moved to Australia after meeting her Italian husband at Sydney airport and has not looked back since.

“I wrote for newspapers and magazines, I was teaching, had many clients and my own office,” Ms Gurgel said. “I had arrived in my profession where I wanted to be, I felt like what I needed to do I had done and so I was happy to start all over again.

“I came here and I fell in love, it was supposed to be — I absolutely love this place, it’s so fantastic.”

While writing architecture books for Brazilian students, Ms Gurgel began teaching extension courses at the University of WA and TAFE night courses in Perth and Rockingham.

“I was using my books to do the courses and writing my books based on of the courses, so it worked well,” Ms Gurgel said.

“I absolutely love teaching, but only those who want to learn.”

Although the couple love Rockingham and the lifestyle it has to offer, they still visit their home countries each year.

“Every time I go to Brazil, I give speeches around the country at the universities,” Ms Gurgel said.

“Brazilian students are always asking me questions — I help them and give my opinion and they say that I’m not afraid of teaching them and speaking my mind.”

Ms Gurgel describes houses as the place “you live, your face, your family”, and still does consultancy work between writing, playing tennis, travelling and painting.

She has started work on Beer with Design, which will be published next year, collecting stories as she travels around the world.