Scarpa's work as a designer has been narrowly framed as that of an object–fixated architect. His fascination with rich materials, overly complex details, and often arcane references has overshadowed other aspects of his productive activities. Yet, there is another Scarpa who has yet to be fully explored. Landscape and garden art were intrinsic parts of Scarpa's productive activities, informing his choice of materials, the nature of his details, and the meaning of his references.

In 1952, Carlo Alberto Scarpa designed the sculpture garden on the terrace of the Italian Pavilion for the Venice Biennale, originally designed by Duilio Torres in 1932. The garden features stunning light, shadows, and pools. Three heavy oval columns support the gabled roof, which is shaped like three circles subtracted from a rectangle.