ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the early public gardens designed by the Brazilian landscape designer and artist Roberto Burle Marx (1909–1994) in the 1930s, in the city of Recife, northeast Brazil. It seeks to discuss the concepts embodied in the idea of the modern garden as shaped by Burle Marx, acclaimed as one of the greatest garden designers of the twentieth century. Brazilian born, his father was German and his mother Brazilian of French descent. In accepting the invitation to remodel Recife’s squares, he created gardens anchored on painting, botanical and ecological principles in which vegetation played a prominent role. His conceptualization of public gardens is particularly suited to discuss how gardens embody human control over nature by extending the concepts of planning, designing and building to landscape. Taking this vantage point, this chapter is divided into four sections. First, it presents Burle Marx’s background and the general context of his work in Brazil and in Recife. Second, it explores his understanding of the modern garden, grounded in concepts such as hygiene, education and art. Third, it analyses his projects for new gardens, emphasizing the planting of indigenous vegetation species. Fourth, it examines the guidelines behind renovation projects in pre-existing gardens.