Roberto Burle Marx Site, in Rio de Janeiro, is reopened for visits

Good news for all Rio residents: Sítio Roberto Burle Marx is now open for visits , after being closed for renovations that lasted three years. Located in Barra de Guaratiba, in the West Zone of Rio, the site served as the residence of the great master of Brazilian landscaping, Burle Marx , from 1973 until 1994, when he passed away. Today, the site is a strong candidate for UNESCO World Cultural Heritage , given its importance as a place of memory, a unique repository of the multiple dimensions of the life and work of the landscaper. The Sítio Burle Marx has a unique botanical collection, as well as paintings, engravings, furniture, ceramics, tapestries, murals, tile panels, works by renowned artists and the landscaper himself – all items from his private collection. Refurbishment work has begun in October 2018 and are the result of a project conceived and carried out by Intermuseus, with financial support from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), through the Culture Incentive Law and a partnership with Sítio Roberto Burle Marx/IPHAN.

The reopening of the house will come with restrictions: due to the pandemic, it will only be possible to see the interior of the residence through the doors and windows. The number of people per group has been reduced – guided tours now take place with a maximum of five people. Opening hours are Tuesday through Friday, at 1:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. Reservations can be made through the official website or by calling (21) 2410-1412.

About Burle Marx

Born in 1909 in São Paulo and raised in Rio de Janeiro, where he died in 1994, Burle Marx became known internationally as one of the most important landscapers of the 20th century. He created the concept of the modern tropical garden, promoting a paradigm shift in global landscaping. , based on modern forms and the use of tropical and subtropical plants, breaking with the tradition of classical and romantic gardens of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Burle Marx was also a visual artist, painter, sculptor, jewelry designer, costume designer, set designer, ceramist and tapestry maker. All these facets of the artist can be appreciated on the property that was for him a large laboratory for botanical and artistic experiments, where he lived and produced in his last twenty years of life.