Are floating forests one of those things that we didn’t realise we missed and wanted? For this year’s Salone del Mobile design festival in Milan the brand Timberland commissioned Stefano Boeri Interiors to create a tree-filled pavilion. As I understand, it floats on the city’s Darsena waters as we speak. The purpose of the pavillion is to showcase the importance of urban greening in the fight against the climate crisis. Also to educate the public about the importance of regenerative materials and practices.
Where I live there’s floating “recycling barge”. A barge loaded with containers enabling disposal of plastics, chemicals, wood and metal. The barge stops at strategic places along the local river at regular intervals making it easier for urban dwellers to get rid of unwanted items. I reckon parallels can be drawn between this barge and the abovementioned pavilion. If you can’t get to the forest, bring the forest to you kind of thing. Interesting idea.
Of course, there’s nothing new under the sun. I did some research about floating forests. It seems that Homebush Bay, a waterside suburb in western Sydney is a trendsetter in this field. The bay is home to “dead” ships, no longer required nor wanted. To humans at least. Seems, however, that a mangrove tree or several as well as other plants have taken a particular liking to SS Ayrfield. The lush vegetation sprouting out from the ship have led the locals to call it – surprise, surprise – a floating forest. And to think that I, in another life, lived just down the road …
