Patios House: Integrating Tropical Vegetation with Serene Privacy
Rodrigo Oliveira Paisagismo, led by principal Rodrigo Oliveira, has been honored in the Residential, Single Family category by the Architecture MasterPrize for Patios House, a lush, multi-level garden retreat in Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We spoke with Rodrigo Oliveira about his 31-year journey in landscape design, the challenges of integrating a private oasis into steep tropical terrain, and the strategies that make this project uniquely of its place.
Could you give us a little background about yourself and your firm?
Rodrigo Oliveira, I have worked in landscape design for 31 years, beginning with luxury residential gardens. In recent years, our office has expanded to include corporate and office landscapes. My passion arises from living in the countryside, where I learned agronomy and developed gardens for every home I lived in. Over time, I built a team combining architectural and horticultural expertise to create cohesive environments that honor both plants and built form.
What was the brief for the award-winning project?
Rodrigo Oliveira, The clients wanted a cozy house nestled in nature, with a pool visible from within yet screened from neighbors. Privacy, seamless integration with the forest, and a sense of a hidden oasis were key, while retaining views to the sea.
Please describe your design process for Patios House.
Rodrigo Oliveira, We began by addressing the steep site and elevated street entrance which offered no direct views to the house. Our first step was installing a green barrier of native trees and understory to create privacy and a forest-like approach. We then designed stone stairways and narrow plant-lined corridors to maintain elegance and accessibility while preserving the mature pines.
What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
Rodrigo Oliveira, The land’s steepness required breaking stones for the access stairway, maintaining a natural garden essence. Narrow side corridors demanded careful planting to allow comfortable passage and maintain neighbor privacy. At the central patio, we sculpted vegetation to frame the pool view while preserving seclusion, and ensured the hill’s hydrology and biodiversity remained undisturbed.
What is the most innovative aspect of the project?
Rodrigo Oliveira, The real innovation is how we combined the raw coastal environment with a refined landscape. Simple yet sophisticated planting schemes benefit from the tropical climate, creating fresh, climate-friendly microclimates. The central courtyard patio feels like a secret forest room, while the pool area opens to sea views.
Which outcome makes you most proud?
Rodrigo Oliveira, I am proud that the garden feels inseparable from the house and its native biome. Patios House belongs to its place, and the plantings integrate seamlessly with the forest, creating a living extension of the natural environment.
What inspired you to become a landscape designer?
Rodrigo Oliveira, Landscape chose me. Growing up in the countryside, I planted every garden I encountered. My agronomy studies deepened my understanding of plants, and collaborating with architects taught me how to weave built and natural landscapes together. That dual background defines our practice.
Who are your biggest influences in landscape design?
Rodrigo Oliveira, Leo Laniado taught me how to craft beautiful gardens with generosity of spirit. From England, Tom Stuart-Smith inspires me with his work that respects natural biomes. Brazilian tropical gardens, with their rainforest complexity, also deeply influence our planting palettes.
If you could own any design object, what would it be and why?
Rodrigo Oliveira, My own house in Bahia, because I designed its garden exactly as I wished—preserving surrounding nature and achieving perfect harmony between built form and landscape.
What future trends will impact landscape design?
Rodrigo Oliveira, Society changes rapidly, but gardens must remain timeless and natural. I believe maintaining ancient-style, resilient plant communities is vital to creating enduring, climate-adaptive environments.
How can landscape design make a meaningful difference in society?
Rodrigo Oliveira, By transforming urban spaces into climate-friendly, beautiful places. Plants clean air, cool microclimates, and provide psychological relief. Landscapes can improve health, environmental quality, and community well-being.
What does receiving the Architecture MasterPrize mean to you and your company?
Rodrigo Oliveira, Winning my first international award was a great surprise and honor. It confirms we are on the right path and that our dedication to meaningful landscape design pays off.
We thank Rodrigo Oliveira for sharing the vision and craft behind Patios House, an examplar to integrating privacy, sustainability, and coastal beauty in a Brazilian landscape.