400 m² outdoor area turns into a tropical garden with leisure spaces

Located in a gated community in Itanhangá (RJ), this house had its external area of approximately 400 m² completely redesigned by the landscaping project signed by landscape designer Maíra Duarte, from the office Horto Girassol and featuring CASACOR Rio de Janeiro. Before the intervention, the space was overgrown with weeds and outdated vegetation that hid the building. The residents, a couple with two children and the dog Sunday, an energetic border collie, sought to completely transform the space. The story of the project began when the clients acquired the house and decided to renovate it entirely. There were high expectations regarding the new landscaping, as the property was surrounded by tall vegetation that obscured the construction. The residents' desire was to create a garden that brought lightness and breath, that would "dress" the house without covering it and be appreciated from all corners, featuring flowers and also providing a large grassy area for playing volleyball. "We maintained the existing tall vegetation on the facade to ensure privacy from the neighbor, and everything else was built in layers," explains Maíra Duarte.

The concept of the project is tropical, seeking dialogue with the entire surroundings. The inspiration came from the layers present in nature itself — like in the mountains, where the richness lies in the diversity found in just one square meter. The tropical style is reflected in every detail of the landscaping, valuing varied colors, textures, and shapes. At the entrance, the landscaping opens up with an imposing corridor of Veitchia palms. On the sides of the garage and the pool, different species of heliconias — Heliconia rostrata, Alan Carle, and Psittacorum — bring movement and color, while the vine Poet’s Jasmine covers the entire wall of the house, creating true "living frames." The Syngonium appears as ground cover, ensuring unity to the ensemble. In the center of the entrance, a green mass gathers tropical species of different sizes and textures, such as Philodendron wilsonii, guaimbé, jabuticaba tree, jasmine-manga, more heliconias, alpinias, arecas, jibóias, and ravenalas. The side pergola, with a metallic structure and transparent glass cover, already existed and was preserved. Under it, the highlight goes to the Philodendron wilsonii, which clings to the wall and creates an imposing green wall design. "This neighborhood is surrounded by a lot of natural forest, so we definitely wanted to bring this tropical landscaping inside the house as well. Furthermore, the humid climate of the region is very favorable for this type of vegetation," concludes the landscape designer.