Garden of Communities

Hello Wood, known for its distinctive cabin houses and builder festivals, has designed another spectacular public installation. Placed in the center of the Factory'ard in Veszprem, the Garden of Communities is an artwork celebrating the rich culture of the Veszprem-Balaton region and a symbolic monument to the cooperation of the 116 municipalities participating in the Veszprem-Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture programme. For each municipality, Hello Wood designed a unique planter box with the town's name clearly displayed on its side and containing a sapling; in Veszprem these 116 planters form a community garden that promotes the eternal values of cooperation. The uniquely shaped planters create a spectacular, freely accessible exhibition space. The contrast between geometric architectural forms and lush vegetation produces a magical atmosphere, attracting visitors who wander among the names of villages and cities that hold personal memories. Native tree saplings planted in the crates together form a biodiverse vertical garden that grows and strengthens with the seasons; an automated irrigation system ensures continuous growth, and the complex structure offers the vegetation different sun, wind, and rainfall conditions so that each species is placed where its needs are met. The site's history is a key factor: it was home to one of the region's largest furniture factories for about 120 years. The planter cladding commemorates this heritage, made from nearly 120-year-old reclaimed larch planking from the recently renovated Drechsler Palace in Budapest; the antique material contributes to the work's timelessness. After four years, each planter will be returned to its municipality, where the saplings will take root and grow into trees symbolizing the unity of 2023.