Planted launches during London Design Festival 2020

Press Release - 7 September

Planted, the first contemporary design show aimed at reconnecting cities with nature, will make its eagerly anticipated physical debut as part of London Design Festival alongside an exciting online trailer for next year's main event.

Staged on a purpose-built outdoor studio and set amongst the trees on Granary Square, Planted Unplugged will involve a three-part talks series filmed in real-time in Kings Cross on Friday 18 September.

The studio created by Biotecture Ltd, will play host to interviews and talks led by biophilic design expert Oliver Heath and former Sunday Times journalist Sam Peters, exploring how sustainability, food production, architecture, nature and design can combine to create cleaner, greener, healthier urban spaces.

Following hot on the heels of the critically acclaimed Planted Unearthed series, Planted Unplugged will focus on three specific topics; carbon capture, the right to repair and blooming buildings.

With a high-calibre line-up of speakers including Sebastian Cox, Andrew Waugh, Claire Potter, Duncan Baker-Brown, Mak Gilchrist, Richard Sabin, Oksana Bondar, Greg Lavery, Ugo Vallauri and Heath himself, Planted Unplugged is set to lead LDF’s conversation on some of the most important topics of our time.

Planted Unplugged will be free to access online via registration at www.planted-cities.co.uk during the festival.

“It is clear now more than ever we must all proactively explore ways of changing our manufacturing processes and consumption habits to enable the planet upon which we depend the chance to replenish and regenerate,” said Heath.

“If this pandemic has taught us anything it’s that nature is our master, not vice versa. I’m delighted to be leading LDF’s conversation with Planted Unplugged.”

Planted Unplugged’s vibrant green studio created by living wall specialists Biotecture Ltd, features their new sustainable vertical planter, PlantBox, covered in a variety of plants.

Furnished beautifully by Vestre, the studio set will provide one of LDF’s most eye-catching installations and will be accessible to the public from Thursday 17 September to Sunday 20 September.

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With sanitizing stations provided by Bramley and social-distancing measures in place, Planted Unplugged is set to be an exciting trailer of Planted's main physical event in May 2021.

For a flavour of what's to come next May, registered visitors will also be able to view a curated selection of stylish and sustainable brands looking to present at the show next year via www.planted-cities.co.uk with new product launches, installations and design classics.

Showcasing the best sustainable design products today which do not damage tomorrow, brands on show will include Another Country, Vestre, Biotecture, littala and Bramley.

“We are hugely excited about the audience, partners and brands we’ve engaged with since the beginning of lock-down back in March,” said Planted co-founder and former designjunction creator, Deborah Spencer.

“So many people have re-engaged with nature in recent times and the mental and physical benefits of living in and around green spaces has never been more evident.

“We would have loved to have launched our main event this September, but under the circumstances we believe Planted Unplugged, accompanied by an exciting product offering on our website, provides an excellent taster of things to come. We’re really excited to be part of LDF.”