In a stunning and fragrant temporary art installation, over 2,000 grafted flowers and herbs were draped across a building in Milan. Created by the design studio Piuarch and landscape architect Cornelius Gavril, the gardening facade installation was a part of Milan Design Week. Named “Flowerprint”, the project was displayed from April 4-9th in the courtyard of Via Palermo 5 in the Brera Design District, covering the entire front of Piuarch’s building from ground to roof.
The design team was inspired to create a three-dimensional flower embroidery in order to explore a new multi-sensory form of surface decoration. “The flowered wall uses the different varieties in their color and material condition to create a pattern, a sort of actual floral graphism, in three dimensions: olfactory, material and in constant transformation depending on light and humidity conditions,” explained Piuarch. The appearance of the installation changed in accordance with the weather and time of day, casting beautiful shadows in the urban environment.
The cascading flora in bright colors and flourishing shapes form a sort of surreal tapestry. The flowers were arranged in a constellation across the building with 200 vertical lines, each 10 meters long. Invisible wires suspended a collection of distinct bouquets created with roses, oriental lilies, carnations, and aromatics including thyme, sage, lavender, rosemary, marjoram, and mint.
Milan Design Week, also called “Fuorisalone”, is a highly regarded annual festival of arts and culture in the cosmopolitan Italian province. Events, performances, and exhibitions take place all across Milan, traditionally focused in the 5 Vie District, Brera Design District, Ventura Lambrate District, Tortona Design District and Isola Design District.
Many of the flowers and herbs used were grafted to potatoes to prolong their vitality. The ancient method is used to propagate plants and works by placing the stem of cut plants into a hole that has been drilled into a potato. The potato provides the right conditions for nutrient and water retention.
This can be achieved easily at home. Propagate your favorite plant by first cutting the stem at a 45-degree angle, dust with rooting compound and place it into the potato. The potato should have a three-inch hole the same diameter as the stem. Bury the potato in a pot of moist soil with the stem sticking out and keep cool and humid until the plant begins to thrive.
