The house is on a beautiful beach in a condominium close to the border between São Paulo and Rio, already with a São Paulo atmosphere, but a strong carioca accent. Summer rains are intense, abrasive, combined with high temperatures, while in autumn and winter, which are drier, temperatures are milder with clearer skies.

 

To be there is to enjoy one of the most beautiful coastlines in Brazil, to see and to experience the sand and the emerald sea getting involved with the exuberance of the very close and diverse Atlantic Forest. These attributes of nature make the landscaping project apparently unnecessary, paradoxically, however these same attributes give it an important and delicate mission. At the same time that it was necessary to make the house cozy and give it some privacy, it was equally or even more important to harmonize the house with its surroundings.

Dealing with the lofty imperial palm trees that were already on the site was also a topic, but as the dear Rio de Janeiro architect Jorge Hue used to say when referring to an imposition like this, “they have the virtue of existence”.

 

The implantation of the house designed by Isay Weinfeld creates very different situations of sunlight, wind impact and salinity on its faces, as well as in the internal gardens. This condition led to the selection of plants, which, exposed to such particular situations, gave the vegetation absolute protagonism, meticulously polished by the numerous visits to the site during the construction of the house and the implantation of the garden.

 

I created with the diversity of plants provided and authorized by this microclimate a walk of irregular stones full of discoveries, plant associations that are offered as we walk along the paths that wind through the garden.

 

On the north face of the house, more exposed to the sea and its saline winds, vertical trees such as capororocas (Myrsine), guanandis (Calophyllum brasiliense), embiruçus (Pseudobombax grandiflorum), alternate with aroeiras (Schinus terebinthifolia), gabirobas (Campomanesia xanthocarpa), abricós-da-praia (Mimusops coriacea), araçás (Psidium cattleyanum), jambos (Syzygium jambos), mongubas (Pachira aquatica) and a fine specimen of cajá-manga (Spondias dulcis), and the elegant carpentaria palm trees, making a very welcome screen between the house and the common area of the condominium. The different heights, sizes and shapes alternate transparencies and closures, letting the good light illuminate the rooms, while at the same time mimicking the house with its surroundings. Fruit trees will also entertain the gardens of the rooms, such as pitanga (Eugenia uniflora), cabeludinha (Plinia glomerata), guava and pomegranate.

On the southeast side, more protected from the winds, facing the street and receiving at the entrance of the house, dypsis, lanceolatas, cariotas, bamboo grass, heliconias, strelitzias and bastão-do-imperador (Etlingera elatior) offer exuberance in all its forms and colors. All these plants are spread throughout the almost private gardens of each environment, sharing their existence with philodendrons, heliconias, zamias, ferns, marantas, gingers, monsteras, megakepasmas and justicias.

This is a garden to walk around and observe all the abundance of this plant community. To observe a lot and throughout the year, in the four seasons. Yes, there too, the seasons are manifested: in flowering, fruiting, shedding and sprouting of leaves.

 

How many times can we exercise and enjoy this ceremonial of truth?

​