Kokedama Forest.
Kokedama Forest was a temporary installation within the Design District at the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show 2021. This edition was held at the FDR Park in Philadelphia, PA with a narrative focused on Habitat, Nature’s Masterpiece.
Kokedama Forest is a visual reflection upon the hidden importance of the dwellers within the soil and how their partnership with plants creates a suitable habitat for all of us.
Habitat is increasingly being used as a synonym of refuge. This is probably due to the fact that so many species, along with human communities, are being jeopardized by the loss of their habitat. Soil is a habitat that is normally overlooked as attention is typically focused on the eye-catching habitats and creatures rather than on the humble beings living directly under our feet. However, these micro-organisms are indispensable as they are actively building fertile soil while nourishing their key partnerships with plants within an intricate network of relationships that constitutes the core of healthy and resilient ecosystems. The disturbances in the soil microorganisms’ habitat lead to desertification, and this loss of fertile soil equals the lack of habitat for the majority of species on this planet, including Homo sapiens. Habitat is indeed a masterpiece, the physical result of a hyper-connected and diverse living network that we all depend on. It is imperative and of paramount importance that we strongly commit to steward this sophisticated network.
Kokedama Forest is a 1,000 SQF miniature sculptural forest consisting of more than 1,200 autochthonous forestry seedling kokedamas nested within an inverted dome carved out from a fragile and intricate metal network. This 7.5 feet high three-dimensional structure extruded from a 30´ x 30´square is woven with steel inviting the contradictory blend of strength and delicacy that is implicit in all living networks.
Guests are welcomed to enter the micro-woodland and be surrounded by the levitating kokedamas: hundreds of seedlings proudly displaying their intimate relationship with soil supported by a complex symbolic web. At the center of this improvised green amphitheater, the visitor is both a spectator and a protagonist being simultaneously embraced with its peaceful parlance while invited to actively question her/his role at the center of its metaphorical arena.
Awards:
Gold Medal - The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society @ Philadelphia Flower Show 2021
The Governor’s Trophy for the most innovative or unique design @ Philadelphia Flower Show 2021
Special Achievement Award for an exhibit of unusual excellence in creativity - GCFP @ Philadelphia Flower Show 2021
ArchDaily 2022 Nominee for the Building of the Year Awards within the Small Scale & Installations Category
Images © Nomad Studio.
(*) Kokedama. Kokedamas have their origins in Japan. In the Japanese language, kokedama translates to moss-ball, koke- meaning “moss” and dama- meaning “ball”.
FDR Park. Philadelphia, PA. USA
2021
Partners
Collaborators
Volunteers
GADEA DE LA FUENTE
Ana Nieto
Fernando de la Fuente
Micro-forest Lifecycle: from ephemeral to permanent
As part of the project philosophy, after its run in the Philadelphia Flower Show, Kokedama Forest will continue alive becoming a part of the collection at NorthPark Center in Dallas, TX. In addition, the hundreds of native seedlings of the ephemeral micro-woodland have been adopted by Tyler Arboretum to become part of its permanent forest.