SECOND PRIZE WINNER!
Gabriela Kwasowska, Anna Krystkowicz & Marta Kozłow
Poland
Third-year architecture students at Białystok University of Technology, they met during their studies, bonding over their shared interests and passion for architecture. They decided to enter the 2023 Olfactory Garden Competition as a school project, seizing the opportunity to challenge themselves and showcase their ideas.
Interview with the Winner
Can you describe your inspiration behind the design concept for the olfactory garden?
Our intention was to design the 'seed of the garden' only and then to invite designers and residents to jointly design its further expansions – further 'garden constellations', inspired by the night sky. But to begin with, we are focusing on a small section of it, the layout of which reflects the part of the constellation of the Ursa Minor.
We have also designed three smaller pavilions in the garden. They are inspired by the flower shape of the Lily Of The Valley (Convallaria majalis), the fruit of the Chinese lantern (Alkekengi officinarum = Physalis alkekengi) and the Bluebell flower (Hyacinthoides non-scripta). These are the plants that seem to shine in the darkness.
How did you approach the task of selecting plants and natural elements to create a diverse and engaging fragrance palette?
We wanted to create night garden so it was important for us to choose flowers and plants that bloom and smell at night. It was important that some of them were pollinated in the evening and at night by moths - nocturnal insects. We also focused on selecting plants that bloom in spring and summer, as we assumed that the location is inactive during the remaining parts of the year.
In what ways does your design aim to stimulate and engage visitor’s sense of smell on a deep emotional level?
All of the plants and flowers have similar, subdued, solid colors. It was important for the plants and flowers not to attract attention through their colors, but through the intensity of their blooming and fragrance. We also designed pavilions where visitors can fully focus on olfactory experiences and immerse themselves in the scent of flowers.
How did you ensure that your garden design seamlessly integrates with the surrounding environment? What considerations were taken into account?
Geographically, the garden is located in Wasilków, a town in northeastern Poland at the edge of the Knyszyn Primeval Forest. The site is inside one of the largest natural protected areas in Poland, the Knyszyn Forest Landscape Park. This is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6A.
During the design process, we endeavored to adapt our garden to the existing terrain without disturbing the natural landscape. Therefore, our intention was to design the 'seed of the garden' only and then to invite designers and residents to jointly design its further expansions.
The paths in the garden have permeable surfaces created from natural aggregates. They are designed so as not to impede people with disabilities. The bright colors of the pathways and garden lighting at night encourage exploration and invite visitors to discover new scents, while also ensuring their safety.
Can you elaborate on the educational value that your garden design offers? How do you plan to inform visitors about the various plants and their associated fragrances?
The information panels are just plywood lanterns. Each panel is dedicated to one of the key plants that can be found in the garden, as well as a moth that pollinates the flower. The panels have laser-cut letters and moths. The panels are portable and can be hung in different configurations in each pergola. Interactive panels light up when you approach them.
Sustainability and maintenance are key factors in the long-term success of the garden. What sustainable practices have you incorporated into your design, and how do you plan to ensure the garden’s upkeep?
The vast majority of plants require daily watering, mainly near the ground. Watering of leaves and flowers should be avoided. Some varieties like moist or wet soil, others do not; therefore, we have separated such plant species.
The plants selected in the project like the sun. Individual species require fertilization once or twice a year, most often in autumn. They also do not like weeds, so regular weeding is necessary.
Some plants, namely white wolf and "One Night Queen", are to be planted in a winter greenhouse, the Bluebell flower pavillion. They require a minimum temperature of approx. 10-15 °C. But, these plants do not require pruning, weeding or watering.
How do you envision visitors experiencing the olfactory garden? Can you describe a visitors journey through the space?
An introvert meditates on the scents in the small Bluebell Flover Pavillion, choosing a time at midnight; then walks slowly along the edge of the lane and stops at the next meditation spot, contemplating each pavillion in this way.
An extrovert with friends dances around the circular lane. The smells help them to feel oneness with the universe. Sometimes they try to follow a woolly moth, intoxicated by the scent.
A child gazes in awe at the stars. Subtle fragrances let the children dream. Don't the stars have a smell?
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