Join us for a special evening dedicated to the work of Roberto Burle Marx, the renowned artist, painter, printmaker, ecologist, and one of the most influential landscape architects of the 20th century.
Roberto Burle Marx’s legacy stretches from the Copacabana Beach promenade on Atlantic Avenue in Rio de Janeiro to numerous public building gardens in Brasília, to his own botanical garden, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. With more than 50 plants named after him, Burle Marx was an early voice in calls for the conservation of Brazil’s rainforests.
The Burle Marx Institute, soon to re-locate 120km north of Rio de Janeiro at the Cavanelas’ house—one of his iconic collaborations with architect Oscar Niemeyer—is dedicated to preserving Burle Marx’s work. The Institute, established in 2019 as a non-profit organization, strives to make the extensive Burle Marx archive collection, which includes over 150,000 items, publicly accessible.
Isabela Ono, Executive Director at the Burle Marx Institute, will share insights from this collection and discuss some of the major projects Burle Marx developed over seven decades. She will explain why his work continues to be so influential and how his projects are regarded as works of art in their own right.
Isabela will discuss how the collection, concepts, and narratives of Burle Marx’s work can promote a philosophy of individual well-being through the integration of nature and artistry. This vision aims to create the possibility of a “utopian urban environment,” inspiring new ideas for the future of cities—greener, healthier, and inclusive for everyone.
Joining Isabela in conversation will be Rowan Moore, Architecture Critic of The Observer.
Why not stay for dinner and treat yourself to our award-winning Garden Café? We recommend pre-booking a table to guarantee your space.
Speaker Bio
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Isabela Ono
Isabela Ono
Founder and Executive Director of the Burle Marx Institute. Landscape architect, Graduated at school of Architecture and Urban Design (FAU-UFRJ) with a master’s degree in urban design (ProUrb- UFRJ); professor at the School of Architecture PUC-RJ (2006 to 2008). She has more than 25 years of professional experience in the landscape design area, developed projects in Brazil and abroad. Worked directly with Haruyoshi Ono, her father, Roberto Burle Marx's creative partner for almost 30 years. Recently curated three exhibitions in Brazil (2021, 2023 and 2024) about the legacy of Burle Marx projects over the last seven decades.
Since the beginning of her career, she worked in the development of a lot of landscape projects, and in parallel also worked in the archive, supporting academic researchers and co-curated content for exhibitions and publications on the Burle Marx’ legacy, being an expert on the subject. As Haruyoshi Ono’s daughter, inherited her father’s passion of landscape profession and the all the story of BM and belief in the relevance of preserving the Burle Marx landscape collective collection and making them accessible globally, opening possibilities to think of new meanings from this legacy and inspiring new visions of the future of the cities (greener, healthier and for everyone). -
Rowan Moore
Rowan Moore
Rowan Moore is Architecture Critic of The Observer.
He was formerly Director of the Architecture Foundation, Architecture Critic of the Evening Standard and Editor of Blueprint magazine.
His most recent book is Property, the Myth that Built the World, published by Faber in 2023. Previous books include Slow Burn City (Picador 2016), which explores the unprecedented transformations of London in the 21st century, and Why We Build (Picador 2012).
He is Doctor of Civil Law (Honoris Causa) at the University of East Anglia, and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. His awards include Critic of the Year at the UK Press Awards.
