Spices & Bricks is a personal space where I bring together two things that have shaped my life in different but surprisingly connected ways: architecture and food.

I’ve been working as an architect for many years, and I’ve always been fascinated by the way spaces influence how we live, gather, and feel. Whether I’m designing a home, rethinking a kitchen layout, or sketching a detail, I’m always thinking about how people will experience that space through daily rituals like cooking, eating, or simply sitting with a cup of coffee and reading a book.

My love for cooking didn’t start in a professional kitchen — it started at home, cooking brigadeiro, brownies, and pasta at my mom’s house. Later, with my father, this passion grew even stronger. He didn’t cook every day, but when the weekend came or there was something to celebrate, the kitchen became his stage. As I grew older, I spent most of my adolescence and adult life close to him and my stepmom, who shared that same love for cooking.

Weekends were special. Friends would come over, the table would slowly fill with smells and laughter, and nobody left without eating. It wasn’t just about recipes, it was about creating a moment. That joy of gathering around food stayed with me.

This blog isn’t just about design tips or recipes (though there will be some of both!). It’s about how flavor and structure both tell stories. Sometimes I’ll talk about a project I’m working on. Sometimes I’ll share a dish that brought me comfort. And sometimes I’ll just write about something small and beautiful like sunlight on a kitchen counter.

📩 Email: office@mariapiacruz.com