The gardens of Roberto Burle Marx

Published in 1991, this work by Sima Eliovson serves as a definitive examination of the landscaping philosophy of Roberto Burle Marx, the Brazilian architect and artist credited with introducing modernist landscape design to tropical garden art. The book emerged during a period of renewed global interest in Burle Marx's unique synthesis of native botanical knowledge and abstract art principles, which prioritized the use of indigenous plants arranged in sculptural, painterly compositions.

The volume benefits from Eliovson’s background as a seasoned botanical author, capturing the essence of Burle Marx’s design language, which treated the garden as a living canvas. Through extensive photography and documentation of his private and public commissions, the book illustrates his departure from formal European garden symmetry in favor of organic, sweeping forms. Upon its release by Thames and Hudson, the book was received as an essential reference for landscape architects seeking to understand the marriage of ecological stewardship and avant-garde aesthetic design.