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When São Paulo - found architect and landscape decorator Paulo Pratti was hired to design the garden of this condo in Laranjeiras , some two hours to the south of Rio de Janeiro , he was inspired by the garden of Burle Marx , a great influence on his employment , yet he also visualized the cascading hobo camp of Rio ’s hills as a spectacular backcloth straight out of a Margaret Mee house painting . In the globe of the great English botanical creative person who explored the Amazon region in the late-1950s and 1960s , elephantine fuchsia blossoms push through from tree diagram branches in inky forests growing on river hollows . Mee , a great influence on Pratti , captures the elusive spirit of the wood and makes us require to get lost in it , even without mosquito repellent . The purpose immix Marx ’s gardens with Mee ’s kernel of the Amazon and hybridize it with a exigency of Indonesian simpleness .
The jungle of Rio de Janeiro ’s mound practically cascades down into the brilliant pool and its marquee . All of the framework in the open pavilions are blue and white . " It brings the sea in , " says interior designer Paulo Pratti . Photo by : Romulo Fialdini . SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THIS GARDEN
After Pratti was charter to design the house and garden in 2006 , his client asked him to look at the Four Seasons refuge in Bali for inspiration . The room in the home are build as open bungalows around an enormous 95,100 - congius swim pool , which in turn cools the mansion in summer . This is not just a pool to be see tarry beside wearing a tiny while of stretchy fabric , without ever getting sozzled . It is n’t only a pool where one semivowel like a swan and speedily comes out the other conclusion . This is the kind of pool where Burt Lancaster would have boom — mean of Ned fromThe Swimmer — play along by many nymphet . Wooden span over the pool connect dormancy quarters with partying and lounging pavilions , bring in the estate “ feel like a hotel or a order , ” as Pratti explains , “ constantly filled with visitant . ” The latter part of this concept is most decidedly Brazilian .
The matureDracaena arboreaacross from the master entryway . exposure by : Romulo Fialdini . SEE MORE pic OF THIS GARDEN
The spar use of walls create an almost osmotic rally between the outdoors and indoors . Even the few surrounding gemstone paries of the main lodge are planted with micro - orchids in between the stones , as if the entire structure were overrun by nature . Beyond the pavilions , the more than 32,000 - square - foot garden is predominantly green class - round , with touches of yellows and Red River from bromeliads , and pinks and purples fromLaeliaandCattleyaorchids growing on tree and over stone walls . Many of these plant , including some of the tall pansy palms , arrived by gravy holder or helicopter , since the condominium “ does n’t really have good road access , ” Pratti explains . To achieve true genius - of - place status , he partnered with Jose Vila , an orbit gardener with more than 30 years of experience raise regional plants , to be after the garden . Vila ’s cacoethes for local flora is obvious , since 2,000 square substructure of the garden is constitute with species ofHeliconia . Their hanging fire - ruby bloom also fertilise hundreds of hummingbirds and southerly green plover , which prosper in the pesticide - free garden . From the start of the projection , Vila and Pratti ’s emphasis was on caring for the environs . The pool is liberal of chemical substance , rely on a copper filter alternatively , and all lumber used in the house is repurposed cumaru , an alternative to mahogany .
A view of the lawn where guests gather around the open bonfire after sunset . Photo by : Romulo Fialdini . SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THIS GARDEN
The centerpiece of the garden is an oldDracaena arboreafrom the sign where the original owner ’s mother live . When his mother pass away , he brought it to his new abode and placed it in a spot easy visible from the bungalows . But the most unexpected part of Vila and Pratti ’s design is a private garden with a daybed and glorious pink bromeliads , coiffure between the master bedroom and lav , which the owner alone can access .
Some 900 feet from the edge of the attribute ride a whitened sandy beach and the Atlantic Ocean , in case the puddle is not enough . And if walk seems too stressful , the household come with a golf cart to move around the belongings — power by solar energy , because Rio is all about the Sunday .
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