Sítio Roberto Burle Marx

Overview

Nestled in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Sítio Roberto Burle Marx stands as one of the most significant living laboratories of landscape architecture in the world¹. This 40.5-hectare cultural landscape represents the masterwork of Roberto Burle Marx, widely considered the most influential landscape architect of the 20th century, who lived and worked on the property from 1949 until his death in 1994².

The site encompasses an extraordinary collection of tropical and subtropical plants, featuring over 3,500 cultivated species amassed through Burle Marx's numerous botanical expeditions across Brazil³. This remarkable assemblage includes rare specimens of Brazilian flora, many of which were discovered by Burle Marx himself, making it one of the most important repositories of plant diversity in the world.

In 2021, UNESCO inscribed the Sítio Roberto Burle Marx as a World Heritage Site, recognizing it as a living testimony to Brazilian landscape architecture and the preservation of biodiversity⁴. The property encompasses gardens, nurseries, greenhouses, seven naturalistic landscapes, and several buildings that reflect the modernist aesthetic championed by Burle Marx.

Historical Background

The story of Sítio Roberto Burle Marx began in 1949 when Roberto Burle Marx and his brother Guilherme Siegfried acquired the Santo Antônio da Bica farm in the Barra de Guaratiba region⁵. The property, dating back to the 17th century, had previously served as a banana plantation and contained a small chapel from the colonial period.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Burle Marx transformed the site into a living laboratory for his botanical and artistic experiments. He systematically collected and cultivated native Brazilian species, many of which were previously unknown to science. His expeditions across Brazil's diverse ecosystems resulted in the discovery of numerous new species, with 50 plants being named in his honor⁶.

The main residence, originally built in the 1800s, was renovated in 1957 to incorporate modernist elements while preserving its historic character. In 1985, Burle Marx donated the entire property to the Brazilian government, ensuring its preservation as a special federal institution dedicated to artistic and cultural activities⁷.

Archaeological studies conducted in the 1990s revealed evidence of indigenous occupation dating back to the pre-colonial period, adding another layer of historical significance to the site⁸. The discovery of ceramic fragments and tools suggests the area was inhabited by Tupinambá peoples before Portuguese colonization.

Architecture & Design

The architectural complex at Sítio Roberto Burle Marx represents a harmonious blend of colonial Brazilian architecture and modernist principles. The main house, measuring approximately 600 square meters, features distinctive blue-and-white Portuguese azulejos tiles and incorporates elements from various periods of Brazilian architectural history⁹.

Burle Marx's landscape design philosophy is evident throughout the property, where he pioneered the use of native Brazilian plants in artistic compositions. The gardens feature his characteristic curved forms, bold plant groupings, and innovative use of water features. The site includes several distinct garden areas, each demonstrating different aspects of his design principles¹⁰.

The property contains multiple structures including:

• The Stone Kitchen (80m²)
• The Loggia (150m²)
• The Studio-House (200m²)
• Five greenhouses totaling 1,000m²
• The restored 17th-century Chapel of Santo Antônio da Bica

Cultural Significance

The Sítio represents a pivotal moment in landscape architecture history, marking the transition from European-influenced formal gardens to a distinctly Brazilian modernist approach¹¹. Burle Marx's work here influenced landscape designers worldwide and established new paradigms for tropical garden design.

The site serves as both a living museum and a research center, hosting one of the most important collections of tropical and subtropical plants in the world. Its significance extends beyond horticulture into the realms of art, architecture, and cultural heritage preservation¹².

Visitor Information

The Sítio is open to visitors Tuesday through Saturday, with guided tours available in Portuguese and English. Advance reservations are required, and groups are limited to 25 people per tour¹³. The best time to visit is during the spring (September-November) when many plants are in bloom.

The complete tour takes approximately 2.5 hours and includes:

• The main residence and art collection
• The modernist gardens
• The historic chapel
• The plant nurseries
• The Stone Kitchen

Conservation & Preservation

The site faces ongoing challenges from urban development pressure and climate change. The Brazilian Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) oversees conservation efforts, maintaining both the built structures and the living collections¹⁴.

Current preservation projects include:

• Digitalization of Burle Marx's original design documents
• Expansion of the seed bank
• Restoration of historic structures
• Implementation of sustainable irrigation systems

References

Footnotes

1. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Sítio Roberto Burle Marx." World Heritage List. 2021. ↩

2. Adams, William Howard. "Roberto Burle Marx: The Unnatural Art of the Garden." Museum of Modern Art, 1991. ↩

3. Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional. "Sítio Roberto Burle Marx." IPHAN, 2020. ↩

4. World Monuments Fund. "Sítio Roberto Burle Marx Conservation Project." WMF Report, 2019. ↩

5. Montero, Marta Iris. "Roberto Burle Marx: The Lyrical Landscape." Thames & Hudson, 2001. ↩

6. Brazilian Botanical Society. "Contributions of Roberto Burle Marx to Brazilian Botany." Journal of Brazilian Botany, 2018. ↩

7. Federal Government of Brazil. "Decree of Special Protection - Sítio Roberto Burle Marx." Official Gazette, 1985. ↩

8. Archaeological Institute of Brazil. "Indigenous Occupation at Barra de Guaratiba." Research Report, 1995. ↩

9. Cavalcanti, Lauro. "Modern Brazilian Architecture." Phaidon Press, 2003. ↩

10. Fraser, Valerie. "Building the New World: Modern Architecture in Latin America." Verso Books, 2000. ↩

11. Landscape Architecture Foundation. "Roberto Burle Marx: Brazilian Modernist." LAF Case Study, 2017. ↩

12. Journal of Cultural Heritage. "Conservation Challenges at Historic Gardens." Vol. 25, 2022. ↩

13. Sítio Roberto Burle Marx Official Website. "Visitor Information and Guidelines." 2024. ↩

14. ICOMOS. "Heritage at Risk: Special Report on Sítio Roberto Burle Marx." 2023. ↩