VALENCIA, Spain: Following the recent lack of activity, Iberflora is now re-launching Volume II of its Ideas Laboratory, which intends to focus on the connection with nature and defend the need for green spaces in all areas of society, a reality that has become all the more apparent after the months spent in lockdown.
The organisers of Iberflora, the international plants, flowers, landscaping, technology and garden DIY trade fair, which is being held from 6th to 8th October at Feria Valencia, met a few days ago to finalise the details of what will be the second Iberflora Labs, the leading forum for reflection and innovation in the plant and garden sector in Europe.
In its second year, Iberflora Labs will be talking about biophilia (or love of nature) and will be dealing with how to go green in homes, retail outlets, offices and other public spaces. In fact, this concept has gained in importance, as a result of the lockdown. Houses and homes have played a central role in our lives over the last few months with people taking refuge in them.
“Gardens, balconies, patios and plants have become important again because of the wellbeing they provide. In addition to the quality of life and the fact that they purify the air, they have been a constant and have kept us company”, states Miguel Bixquert, the Director of Iberflora, who adds that the theme of the second Iberflora Labs, devised several months ago, dovetails perfectly with everything that is happening in the world.
Today, biophilia is once again very much in the news. More than 50% of the world’s population now lives in cities with over 300,000 inhabitants, and forecasts estimate that this percentage will reach 70% of the population by 2050, making it absolutely essential to review the spaces in which we live, work and play.
In fact, there are more and more architectural examples that connect building and nature: the Bosco Verticale in Milan, the three-star Michelin Azurmendi restaurant in Vizcaya and the Repsol Campus in Madrid are just some of the names that have a biophilic design in their framework.
Iberflora will thus defend its commitment to embracing “green” in all areas of society, as well as the need to be increasingly connected to nature.