One of the most beautiful
gardens (if not the most beautiful!) that I've ever seen in my life is in
Brazil, between Rio and Sao Paulo, at "Fazenda Vargem Grande", a
wonderful farm from the coffee golden era, circa 1837, bought and restored by my
husband's uncle in the 70's, when he also commissioned the garden to Burle
Marx, who, if still alive, would have turned 102 years old this month.
Roberto Burle Marx is internationally known as one of
the most important landscape architects of the 20th century. Born in São Paulo in August 4th, 1909, Roberto Burle Marx moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1913, where he lived until his death in 1994, at the age of 84.
During the years of 1928 and 1929 he studied
painting in Berlin - Germany, where he was often seen at the Dahlem Botanic
Garden's greenhouses. In this garden he noticed for the first time the beauty
of the tropical plants and the Brazilian flora.
His first landscape project
was a private garden for a house designed by modernist Architects Lucio Costa
and Gregory Warchavchik in 1932.The famous black and white sidewalk from
Copacabana beach was designed by him, as was the landscape from Flamengo in
Rio, and many other wonderful works of art around the country.
Besides being a landscape
designer he was also a remarkable painter, sculptor, singer, and jewelry
designer, and his style is so strong and with such character that his work is
easily recognized, be it in gardens, tapestries, jewels or paintings.
Looking at his jewelry drawings
today, I almost cannot distinguish them from his garden projects, and I really
like the idea of wearing a necklace or a brooch that could easily be a tropical
and exuberant garden !
. 
If you'd like to have the feeling of country living in
Brazil at the time of the coffee barons, in an extremely beautiful valley at
the feet of the Mantiqueira mountains and on top of it, see this amazing garden, know
as Burle Marx's work of art, "Fazenda Vargem Grande" is currently
receiving guests! for more information : www.fazendavargemgrande.com.br
6 comments:
adorei o teu novo post!!
parabéns christine! que interressante, eu nao conhecia o lado ourives do burle marx. e absolutamente adorei a foto dele com esta cara de alegria absoluta entre estas duas folhas gigantes.
bjs
Caro, voce viu cada coisa linda?? realmente, um artista completo !
tambem achei essa foto demais :-)
obrigada Caetana :-))
marvelous gardens, marvelous jewels, marvelous designer! loved the post, congratulations!
Jane
A-M-E-I !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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