The new exhibition Gardens of the Future will open at the Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam on Saturday
This special exhibition explores our relationship with the garden as a refuge and as a place for innovative design ideas
The exhibition explores the origins of the contemporary garden and searches for new models
using gardens by designers and artists such as Roberto Burle Marx
Gardens are not always a reflection of our personal preferences or motivations
They can also reflect the influence of political and commercial agendas
This becomes clear in issues such as who owns a garden
how much space there is for gardens in urban areas
the role of vegetable gardens in self-sufficiency and food security
the historic colonial trade in flowers and plants
and the influence of manufacturers of garden tools and patio furniture on our taste
the garden is not only an idyllic place to retreat
but also a literal testing ground for new ideas and experiments
Gardens are increasingly seen as part of larger ecological systems
Designers experiment in the garden with alternative
The exhibition in the New Institute shows examples of winter gardens
Gardens of the Future was developed in collaboration with Vitra Design Museum and the culture and heritage foundation Wüstenrot Stiftung and was previously on display at Vitra
The original exhibition design was by the Italian design studio Formafantasma
Gardens of the Future can be seen from November 16
the Nieuwe Instituut will organize various public programmes and workshops around the exhibition.