As part of Barcelona's designation as the UNESCO-UIA World Capital of Architecture, the city's Botanic Garden is currently hosting a unique exhibition titled "Parlour Gardens: Dreams from the Rooftop." This event showcases a diverse collection of ceramic installations, each offering a distinct perspective on landscape architectural design. Curated by a team of prominent figures in landscape and architecture, including Marina Cervera, James Hayter, and José Luis Cortés, the exhibition commemorates a century since the inception of the "jardinets de saló," or living room gardens. These original miniature ceramic landscapes were conceived by Nicolau M. Rubió i Tudurí, Llorenç Artigas, and Raoul Dufy. The exhibition, which runs until October 4, 2026, features installations from 14 international landscape architects, thoughtfully arranged across the botanical grounds according to their respective homoclimatic zones, ensuring a harmonious integration with the regional plant life.
The core concept of the exhibition stems from the 1926 collaboration that birthed the "jardinets de saló," small-scale ceramic representations of natural environments designed to adorn tables. These pieces miniaturized large-scale architectural concepts. A hundred years later, one of these original creations, first unveiled in Paris in 1927, is displayed alongside fourteen new commissions. These modern interpretations are exhibited at the Barcelona Botanical Garden, a 14-hectare ecological marvel on Montjuïc, originally designed for the 1992 Olympics by Carlos Ferrater, Josep Lluís Canosa, and Beth Figueras. The exhibition's subtitle, "Dreams from the Rooftop," highlights the rooftop as a canvas for exploring sustainable urban living and innovative ideas for creating more resilient cityscapes.
The participating designers hail from all five Mediterranean-homoclimatic regions globally, including California, Chile, South Africa, Australia, and the Mediterranean basin. Each model is strategically placed in the garden's section that corresponds to its creator's geographical origin, fostering a strong connection between the artwork and its natural surroundings. These exhibited pieces are miniature representations of rooftop garden proposals, each measuring 45 × 45 × 25 cm. They feature intricate ceramic containers and detailed planting schemes. Modern models are crafted in Barcelona, employing a blend of advanced 3D clay-printing technology and traditional artisanal techniques, and are adorned with living Mediterranean plant species. Each model is presented on its original wooden transport crate, with the gardens meticulously planted and maintained according to the artists' specifications, transforming them into evolving, living art. The exhibition aims to engage the public in a contemporary discourse on ecological resilience, interpreting the essence of a garden within a physical object. Visitors are encouraged to explore the Botanical Garden's diverse climatic zones, prompting reflection on the intricate relationship between urban gardening, climate, and the historical evolution and future potential of domestic green spaces.
This exhibition beautifully merges artistic innovation with ecological awareness, encouraging contemplation on our interaction with nature within urban settings. It serves as a reminder that even small-scale interventions can contribute to a larger dialogue about sustainability and the future of our living environments. The thoughtful integration of art and science, history and future, inspires visitors to envision more verdant and resilient urban landscapes.
