World Heritage Identification Number: 1620
World Heritage since: 2021
Category: Cultural Heritage
WHE Type: Buildings & Architectural Ensembles
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇧🇷 Brazil
Continent: Americas
UNESCO World Region: Latin America and the Caribbean
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A Living Work of Art: Sítio Roberto Burle Marx
Sítio Roberto Burle Marx, located in the western region of Rio de Janeiro, stands as a testament to the visionary work of landscape architect and artist Roberto Burle Marx (1909-1994). This property, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021, serves as a "landscape laboratory" where Burle Marx created "living works of art," utilizing native plants and drawing upon Modernist ideas.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Situated in the western region of Rio de Janeiro, the property embodies a successful project developed over more than 40 years by landscape architect and artist Roberto Burle Marx (1909-1994), a “landscape laboratory” to create “living works of art” using native plants and drawing on Modernist ideas. Began in 1949, the property encompasses extensive landscapes, gardens, buildings and collections, which feature the key characteristics that came to define Burle Marx’s landscape gardens and influenced the development of modern gardens internationally. The site is characterized by sinuous forms, exuberant mass planting, architectural plant arrangements, dramatic colour contrasts, use of tropical plants, and the incorporation of elements of traditional folk culture. By the end of the 1960s, the site housed the most representative collection of Brazilian plants, alongside other rare tropical species. In the site, 3,500 cultivated species of tropical and subtropical flora grow in harmony with the native vegetation of the region, notably the Atlantic Forest biome and associated ecosystems, mangrove swamp and restinga (coastal tropical sandy plain). Sítio Roberto Burle Marx exhibits an ecological conception of form as a process, including social collaboration which is the basis for environmental and cultural preservation. It comprises the first modern tropical garden to be inscribed on the World Heritage List.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (ii): Sítio Roberto Burle Marx demonstrates an important interchange of ideas on landscape design related to the importation of ideas of the Modernist art movement from Europe, their shaping and adaptation through experimentation to a landscape form based on the use of native tropical flora, and their use in a huge number of parks and gardens around the world, which together have had a profound impact on the development of what is now known as Modernist Tropical garden design.
Criterion (iv): Sítio Roberto Burle Marx is an outstanding example of a landscape that demonstrates the development of a new type of landscape design that fused creative ideas of the Modern art movement with local typologies and tropical plants to create a style that ultimately became known as the modern tropical garden.
Encyclopedia Record: Roberto Burle Marx
Roberto Burle Marx was a Brazilian landscape architect whose designs of parks and gardens made him world-famous. He is credited with having introduced modernist landscape architecture to Brazil. He was known as a modern nature artist and a public urban space designer. His work had a great influence on tropical garden design in the 20th century. Water gardens were a popular theme in his work. He was deftly able to transfer traditional artistic expressions such as graphic design, tapestry and folk art into his landscape designs. He also designed fabrics, jewellery and stage sets.Additional Site Details
Area: 40.53 hectares
Number of Components: 1
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
Coordinates: -23.0223777778 , -43.5462222222
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Sítio Roberto Burle Marx from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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Os jardins de Burle Marx na sede do Banco do Nordeste em Fortaleza: modificações e permanências
A study of the Roberto Burle Marx Gardens at the Banco do Nordeste headquarters in Fortaleza, Brazil, reveals that despite significant modifications since its 1984 design, core elements of Burle Marx's modernist approach persist. The research, conducted by the Jardins de Burle Marx study group, analyzed formal, constructive, and botanical aspects through literature review, documentary research, and field visits. Findings highlight the resilience of Burle Marx's design principles, offering new insights into the evolution of landscaping in Fortaleza. This work contributes to the broader understanding of his legacy while documenting changes over time.
Miyasaki, J. S., Frota Junior, J. I., Ribeiro, M. G. R., Da Silva Cruz, F., Sousa Carvalho, F. J., & Coutinho Aguiar, M. (2024). Os jardins de Burle Marx na sede do Banco do Nordeste em Fortaleza: modificações e permanências. Revista Interagir, (125), 42–47. https://doi.org/10.12662/1809-5771ri.125.4915.p42-47.2024
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Metodologia de levantamento cadastral dos jardins do Sítio Roberto Burle Marx (SRBM)
A systematic cadastral survey of the gardens at Sítio Roberto Burle Marx (SRBM) was developed to support its potential UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination, highlighting the need for advanced documentation methods in historic garden conservation. The methodology established a framework for creating detailed inventories that facilitate long-term planning and management, ensuring the preservation of culturally significant landscapes. This approach serves as a model for documenting other historic gardens, addressing gaps in existing conservation strategies by integrating thorough cataloging with heritage protection goals.
Souza, M. d. C., Oliveira, C. T., Mello, F. V., & Monteiro, J. d. C. (2022). Metodologia de levantamento cadastral dos jardins do Sítio Roberto Burle Marx (SRBM). Revista Científica ANAP Brasil, 15(36). https://doi.org/10.17271/19843240153620223366
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Inventário Botânico-Paisagístico do Sítio Roberto Burle Marx: O Estado Atual
A unique landscape harmony exists at Sítio Roberto Burle Marx in Rio de Janeiro, where native vegetation thrives without artificial intervention. This study reveals that the site's botanical-paisagístico inventory demonstrates exceptional ecological balance, contrasting with global norms of landscaped properties. Researchers employed a comprehensive approach to document plant species and their spatial relationships, assessing the site's current state. The findings underscore the importance of preserving such natural-human interactions for future heritage conservation.
Crescencio, D. R., & Souza-iphan, M. d. C. (2021). INVENTÁRIO BOTÂNICO-PAISAGÍSTICO DO SÍTIO ROBERTO BURLE MARX: O ESTADO ATUAL. Anais Do 7º Seminário Ibero-Americano Arquitetura E Documentação. https://doi.org/10.29327/154089.7-11
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Acervo Botânico-paisagístico: Princípios para Conservação do Sítio Roberto Burle Marx (SRBM)
A comprehensive approach to conserving the Sítio Roberto Burle Marx (SRBM) reveals that its unique blend of botanical and landscaping features necessitates tailored management strategies. Unlike generic approaches, effective conservation requires defining intrinsic and extrinsic values to guide systematic data collection through inventories. This method clarifies necessary information for targeted interventions, ensuring the preservation of SRBM's multifaceted legacy.
Oliveira, F. V. M. d., & Monteiro, J. D. C. G. d. B. (2020). Acervo Botânico-paisagístico: Princípios para Conservação do Sítio Roberto Burle Marx (SRBM). Revista Nacional de Gerenciamento de Cidades, 8(62), 103. https://doi.org/10.17271/2318847286220202485
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G.G. Rizzo, Il giardino privato di Roberto Burle Marx, Il Sítio. Sessant’anni dalla fondazione. Cent’anni dalla nascita di Roberto Burle Marx, Roma, Gangemi, 2009
Sítio Roberto Burle Marx, a 40-hectare garden designed by renowned landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx in 1949, stands as a testament to the fusion of scientific and artistic innovation. However, current management practices have led to its deterioration, rendering it an 'intact ruin.' Giulio G. Rizzo's book, published in 2009, provides a comprehensive account of the garden's inception, development phases, and Burle Marx's visionary approach. Through meticulous documentation, Rizzo highlights the garden's scientific and artistic components, underscoring its significance as both a cultural landmark and an ecological model. The study critiques the present-day neglect, advocating for preservation efforts that align with Burle Marx's original intent.
Corsani, G. (2015). G.G. Rizzo, Il giardino privato di Roberto Burle Marx, Il Sítio. Sessant’anni dalla fondazione. Cent’anni dalla nascita di Roberto Burle Marx, Roma, Gangemi, 2009. Ri-Vista. Research for Landscape Architecture, 9(1-2), 115–117. https://doi.org/10.13128/rv-17295
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Proposta de sequência didática com o uso de tecnologias digitais para o desenvolvimento do letramento científico
A proposed didactic sequence integrating digital technologies at Sítio Roberto Burle Marx demonstrates potential to foster scientific literacy among students, particularly in non-formal learning environments. The approach combines field research with two technological tools, aiming to encourage critical reflection and democratic engagement with environmental issues. By grounding the sequence in scientific inquiry and leveraging digital resources, it offers a practical pathway for schools to develop scientifically literate learners who can analyze contemporary problems through an informed, analytical lens.
Lais Oliveira da Silva, M., Tais Oliveira da Silva, M., Barbosa de Melo Filho, A., Cotelli do Espírito Santo, A., & Legey, A. P. (2017). Proposta de sequência didática com o uso de tecnologias digitais para o desenvolvimento do letramento científico. RECITE - Revista Carioca de Ciência, Tecnologia E Educação, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.17648/2596-058x-recite-v2n2-5
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As Cantarias do Sítio Roberto Burle Marx / RJ
A study reveals the artistic and innovative use of stonework by Roberto Burle Marx, a renowned landscape architect and visual artist, at his former estate in Barra de Guaratiba, Rio de Janeiro. The research highlights how Burle Marx repurposed stones from colonial-era demolitions into modern aesthetic designs, blending geological materials with contemporary artistry. Through archival research, interviews with current estate staff, and metric and photographic surveys, the study provides a comprehensive overview of these cantarias (stonework structures), offering insights into both their artistic significance and potential for further geological analysis.
HAAS, Y. C. (2012). As Cantarias do Sítio Roberto Burle Marx / RJ. Anuário Do Instituto de Geociências - UFRJ, 35_1(1), 80–89. https://doi.org/10.11137/2012_1_80_89
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