Floriade, the International Horticultural Exhibition, has provided an update on preparations for this year’s upcoming Expo, starting in April.
Visitors to the expansive site, currently under development, will soon discover a comprehensive horticulture experience, uncovering how city centres can be converted into greener and more sustainable living spaces. Visitors will be educated on the journey from seed (or cutting) to the food on our plates, as well as learning about the latest horticultural innovations that have the potential to make cities greener.
The six-month-long event with its theme of “Growing Green Cities” will provide a modern and contemporary exposition with forty countries presenting their concepts and innovations for a sustainable future. Taking place once each decade, Floriade’s latest display will soon be held in Almere, in Flevoland, which is the latest province to be developed in The Netherlands.
Floriade’s horticulture focus tackles some of the most topical issues regarding the global increase in demand for food. A large percentage of foodstuff is cultivated in horticulture, and pressures don’t appear to ease on suppliers with population growth.
The continuous need for space optimisation is something recognised in the host country. Floriade 2022 organisers say “Urbanisation is changing our world fast. The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated, most urbanised countries on the planet and the pressure is noticeable.”
Industry innovators are however finding new ways to meet this rising demand in a sustainable manner, something the host province of Flevoland is a keen advocate of.
Its municipality of Noordoostpolder, for example, is a large cultivator of tulips and regional products. The largest urban agriculture area in The Netherlands, Oosterwold in Almere, sees its inhabitants produce food locally as part of an ecologically-conscious cooperative.
The Floriade neighbourhood is an ideal example of the expo’s themes actually put into practice – horticulture provides much-needed greenery for cities in the form of trees, plants and flowers. For planners and designers looking for inspiration, Floriade will showcase practical and inspirational examples of horticultural innovations, particularly in the areas of energy, food production, greenery and health.
Photo: Fotolinie
Art of cultivation
Designed by Studio Ossidiana, the Kunstpaviljoen Flevoland [art pavilion] successfully fuses architecture, art and nature. By providing stimulating experiences both in and outdoors, the pavilion acts as a forerunner to a new art museum in Almere, acting as a pilot project for the next five years.
The new art museum will be built in Almere for a number of reasons – as the latest city in The Netherlands, it is renowned internationally for its modern architecture featuring influences from world-famous architects, so much so that is often referred to as an “open-air architectural museum”.
Getting around
Floriade is well placed for international visitors with a wealth of public transport options. Almere’s city centre is a 10-minute walk from the railway station, with a tour boat ready to take Expo visitors to the heart of the venue and back on a return trip. For guests looking to take in the experience over a number of days, a range of sustainable B&Bs and hotels are on offer.
Guests can extend the adventure with 440 km of separated bike lanes with a signposted route network, in addition to a new boat network from April 2022 onwards. For road trippers, the 60-hectare site is located a short trip from culture hotspot Amsterdam, immediately adjacent to the A6 motorway.
The International Horticultural Exhibition Floriade Expo 2022 will open its doors from 14 April 2022 through 9 October 2022.
Event CEO Hans Bakker recently spoke to blooloop about “the greenest day out” to debut this year, discussing how the event has expanded from its origins during the 1960s.
