More Mister Motley: Carioca Sidewalks

In addition to the posts a couple of weeks ago about the biennale MERCOSUR in Porto Alegre (RS), here you find a selection of all the posts on Brazil (in Dutch). Below a summary about an article about the sidewalks of Rio de Janeiro:

We are in Rio walking on the nicest sidewalks I've ever seen. They are made of natural stone in black and white mosaic. Wavy and geometric patterns, but always alternated with rounded corners. Patterns that also continue in the private gardens, which are usually surrounded by big gates, partly removing the boundary between public and private space. Jogging on the sidewalk of Ipanema, a four kilometers long boulevard populated with exotic palm trees, strapped with orchids and cacti, is psychedelic experience. Cars passing by and smiling men wearing very tight pants complete the entourage. We are in Brazil. 

Our friend and companion Ernst van der Hoeven told me about the designer of these pavements: Burle Marx (1909-1994), a Brazilian landscape architect and renowned artist and musician. He drew these mosaics that make the sidewalks dance and the waves of the sea continue on the sidewalks. Thanks to his visionary plans, Ipanema is still a modernist hedonistic paradise. (read more and see photos>>>).

Read also:

Mister Motley about Bienal do Mercosur; Porto Alegre

Mister Motley: Bienal do Mercosur 2