Root, seed, leaf, and flower

Recognized for its contemporary art collection, the Instituto Inhotim is also home to one of the largest collections of living species in Latin America. The book “Raiz, semente, folha e flor – Visual Essays of the Inhotim Gardens” marks a milestone by placing the Inhotim Gardens at the center of the narrative, becoming the first publication dedicated exclusively to the Institute’s landscape design.

Considering the scale of the Institute, the remarkable attributes of the Inhotim Gardens became conceptual guidelines for the book. The graphic design emphasizes the sensory experience of the space and the complexity of its botanical collection. In the page compositions, we introduced expressive typographic drawings, colors that engage with the plurality and sense of wonder found throughout the gardens, as well as a variety of papers and finishes revealed throughout the reading experience, unexpectedly highlighting textures and tones.

The publication brings together historical texts, visual essays, aerial views, and technical documentation, tracing the journey of the gardens from the vision of Bernardo Paz to the work of landscape designer Pedro Nehring. The visual language embraces sophistication and clarity, balancing technical content with narrative depth.

The book’s launch inaugurates a new institutional perspective on the Inhotim Gardens — no longer as a backdrop, but as content in their own right. By transforming landscape architecture into the central theme, the project reaffirms the importance of this living collection and expands its presence in the Institute’s public memory. A carefully crafted endeavor in which editorial design acts as a bridge between territory, narrative, and cultural strategy.