The Hothouse

The Hothouse was the Landmark Project created for London Design Festival 2020. A collaborative installation, the structure was designed by award winning architects Studio Weave, with horticultural design by Tom Massey Studio.

This project explored the type of plants it might be possible to grow outside in future years due to London’s warming climate, it was designed to inspire and educate as well as providing a warning about the impact of climate change. The Hothouse is a stable environment, regulated and adapted to suit the plants within. Located inside is an array of productive plants from all over the world, an edible jungle of exotic species. The display features avocados, mangos, clementines, lemons and pomegranates, all firm favourites in the UK shops and supermarkets. Whilst currently imported, these are the type of plants it might be possible to grow outside in future years, due to London’s warming climate. Although they are regulars on the dinner table and in fruit bowls, many people have no idea what the plants that produce these crops look like.

With the weather becoming more and more unpredictable and unknown climate change effects to come, growing crops indoors or in protected, regulated environments may become increasingly common or even the new normal. British agriculture has a long association with root vegetables and hardy greens, but with the first commercial crop of chickpeas, chia seeds, quinoa and lentils recently harvested in the UK, it’s clear that climate change is already starting to alter the types of crops we can grow. Who knows what we will be able to grow outside in the UK in 10, 20 or even 50 years time, but adaptability and willingness to experiment and change is key.

Melbourne Australia, Mar del Plata Argentina, San Jose California and Montevideo the capital city of Uruguay are all exotic sounding destinations; according to scientific research, by 2050 London could have a similar climate to these cities! The plants located within The Hothouse demonstrate the types of crops that are grown in these far flung destinations today and that we could see growing outside in the UK in years to come.

The exhibition will be updated seasonally and can be found at 2 Redman Place, International Quarter, Stratford, E20 1QJ.