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Some 20 year ago I had the chance of a lifetime to gather Roberto Burle Marx in Louisville , Kentucky . Late in his six - 10 vocation ( he die in 1994 ) , he was there to discuss designing a botanic garden that never would come to fruition . I was a pupil of horticulture and had no genuine idea who he was or the order of magnitude of his importance to landscape painting architecture . He was gracious and solicitous of my report and interest group - and even invited me to visit him in Brazil . Too bad I never took advantage of that invitation . But 20 years after I link up my upright acquaintance Jerry Harpur , noted British garden photographer , in Rio de Janeiro to see Burle Marx ’s public and private mission firsthand .
The garden consortium at Sitio made with relieve architectural stone . Photo by : Richard Hartlage .
While I was take garden design , Burle Marx became a hero to me , a landscape painting architect to learn from and emulate . My trip to Rio was to see , study and substantially realize his work . So did the gardens I visualize there populate up to the caption ? Sad to say , much of his public piece of work is not well - maintain . Exceptions are the walks along the Copacabana and Flamengo beach , I suspect because they are prominent holidaymaker finish . But we also visit private garden in all right shape and thrill to experience .
At Sitio , a concrete spindle defines an entertaining arena . Photo by : Richard Hartlage .
What becomes forthwith manifest is that Burle Marx was a mountain lion working in landscape painting . The patterns he created with paving and bed form and his architectural forms reign his work . They are bold and joyous , and they fete the modern city that Rio was developing into during the early part of Burle Marx ’s career .
Here a long porch shelters client and container plants . pic by : Richard Hartlage .
His garden at the Ministry of Education and the Modern Art Museum in Rio have not fared well . They are neglected , but I was still impressed with the layout and the grand scale leaf of the pools , terrace and various landscape elements . Burle Marx ’s command of expression materials and their innovative use of goods and services was as dynamic as his enjoyment of plants , for which he is internationally renowned .
Burle Marx ’s appeal of succulents at Sitio . photograph by : Richard Hartlage .
We had an opportunity to visit three private gardens - sincerely revolutionise in their layouts , use of architecture and architectural elements . Burle Marx ’s planting intention was far more complex in these because residential clients generally have a strong commitment to excellence in maintenance .
The garden at Montero displays Burle Marx touches — sinuous landscape , dynamical urine — though designers from his office create this department after his dying . “At Montero Burle Marx choreographed the disciplines of landscape painting architecture , vegetation and gardening to make a garden that unrolled before me in a tour de force out that I will remember for the rest of my life , " says Hartlage . Photo by : Richard Hartlage .
The Strunk garden was my favorite . Built as a weekend home , in nearby Petrópolis in 1954 , the sign was design by Burle Marx ’s womb-to-tomb friend , architect Oscar Niemeyer . The sheer use of a checkerboard - patterned lawn and sensitive bedding plants created striking painterly outcome . No landscape painting designer today can fit the variety of the planting pallet . Burle Marx was observe for explore and using plants of his aboriginal Brazil and subservient in advocating the preservation and awareness of native flora . At the same time , he voraciously sought and experimented with adaptable and dynamic plants from all over the man .
Two forms of St. Augustine grass make a control grid in Burle Marx ’s Strunk garden . picture by : Richard Hartlage .
Burle Marx ’s love of plants was most apparent at his domicile , Sitio Santo Antonio da Bica , now own by the state and superbly managed . It was his own secret botanic garden , laboratory , and nursery to cater his commissions . I was totally surprised at the extended use of liriope and ophiopogon , both Asiatic flora that are very vulgar groundcovers in the milder areas of the United States . Burle Marx was not a plant snob . He keep in mind his end destination to produce artful , dynamic landscapes and was uncoerced to use whatever plant he had at his disposal , be they usual or inordinately rarified , as long as they were well-fixed to grow and manage .
Also at Strunk , Burle Marx designed a gratuitous - flesh pattern with rosy genus Alternanthera . Photo by : Richard Hartlage .
Reflecting on our pilgrim’s journey , I am struck by how relevant Burle Marx ’s garden are today . His bluff glide path offers us an choice to the complicated English bungalow style of planting . It does not sacrifice multifariousness but rather bosom plant diversity . I could not help but see his influence in the piece of work of some of the most accomplished landscape painting architect practicing today , such as Raymond Jungles and the strong Oehme , van Sweden . I am more confident than ever , we have not taken Burle Marx ’s bequest far enough . There is still much to learn from his deduction of nontextual matter , computer architecture , and love of plants to create garden that inspire and celebrate contemporary culture .
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