Local Flora: The Foundation of Sustainable Architecture in Brazil
Share:
A 2020 study by the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden revealed that Brazil is home to a rich vegetation with over 46,000 endemic plant species. However, despite this rich natural environmental value, landscape development projects in Brazil have long been influenced by exotic plant species. These practices were mainly influenced by the countries that colonized Brazil. It wasn’t until around 1940, with Roberto Burle Marx, one of the leading landscape architects of the 20th century, that integrating native plants into national projects began to be properly promoted.
Since then, gardens composed of native species have become popular in projects across Brazil, laying the foundation and enhancing the architectural value of the country. In addition to their clear aesthetic appeal, native species offer environmental benefits to gardens and their users.
Among these benefits, one can highlight the preservation of biodiversity, considering the relationship between local plant species and native wildlife and insects, including the attraction of pollinators, contributing to the health of ecosystems, and adapting to local conditions, requiring less overall maintenance compared to exotic species.
Moreover, native plant species often facilitate enhanced microbial activity in the soil, improving soil health through deep-root systems that frequently improve soil structure and prevent erosion.
Join ARDOR Green in exploring a collection of Brazilian projects that incorporate local plant design into their structures!
Follow us for more Green ideas.
Build Green. Build with ARDOR Green.
#ARDORSeeds. #LEED. #LOTUS. #EDGE. #ESG. #GreenBuilding. #Sustainability.
Latest news
GRI standards now available in Vietnamese: What it means for ESG Reporting in Vietnam
On 14 September 2026, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) announced that the latest versions of its complete sustainability reporting Standards are now available in Vietnamese. The release covers the revised Universal Standards, all current Sector Standards and the latest Topic Standards, including GRI 101: Biodiversity 2024, GRI 102: Climate Change 2025 and GRI 103: Energy 2025. [1] GRI first made its Standards available in Vietnamese in 2017. The 2026 update brings Vietnamese-language users up to date with the current modular system and gives companies across the country direct access to the same reporting framework used internationally to identify, manage and disclose impacts on the economy, environment and people. [1] GRI is also expanding engagement in Vietnam through training, technical guidance and knowledge-sharing, with particular attention to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). According to GRI, these programs are intended to help organizations assess sector-specific impacts, strengthen value-chain resilience and respond to disclosure expectations from international markets and sustainable finance providers. [1]
Green Finance in Vietnam: Buildings Seeking Capital Must Start with Data
On 18 September 2026, the Vietnam International Financial Centre in Da Nang (VIFC-DN) identified green finance and the carbon market as priority areas for development. The announcement was not accompanied by a specific lending product, but it sent a clear signal about the direction of green capital in the years ahead: projects will increasingly need to demonstrate environmental performance through data that can be measured, reviewed and independently verified. For developers, industrial asset owners, FDI companies and building operators, the key question is no longer simply “Is this building green?” The more important questions are: “What data proves that it is green, who verifies that data, and will the data continue to be maintained after financing has been disbursed?”
Green industrial parks: A key factor in attracting the next generation of FDI
As international investment increasingly prioritises sustainable development, green industrial parks are emerging as a new competitive benchmark for the market. The attractiveness of an industrial park is no longer determined solely by land availability or rental rates. Today, competitiveness depends increasingly on infrastructure quality, operational capability, ESG performance and the ability to create an efficient and sustainable production ecosystem for investors.
Circular economy under scarcity pressure: Is resource autonomy the solution?
Amid increasing resource scarcity and escalating geopolitical instability, the concept of resource autonomy is emerging as a strategic priority. This article examines how resource autonomy not only complements—but may even surpass—the circular economy as a framework for enabling industrial systems to adapt to the future.
Advancing Green Building Materials for Sustainable Development
As pressure to reduce carbon emissions continues to intensify, green building materials are becoming an increasingly important direction for Vietnam’s construction industry. Green material solutions can help improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs and minimise environmental impacts. At the same time, the use of environmentally responsible materials can support projects seeking green building certifications such as LEED, LOTUS and EDGE. For businesses, this is becoming an important factor in strengthening competitiveness and supporting long-term sustainable growth.
Build Green, Build with ARDOR Green
