Construction, increasing human population density and climate change put pressure on cities’ various residents. As a response, urban nature initiatives are aiming to make cities more liveable for all their inhabitants. To bring the diverse “voices” to the foreground, illustrator Paul Faassen created humorous portraits of Amsterdam and Almere’s occupants. This visual and spatial manifesto is painted directly on the pavilion’s wooden walls and employs the same directness and energy as the countless messages that fly by as you move through the city. Contact Us Stratenmaker Almere Email: contact@stratenmakeralmere.com Phone: +31363690369 P.J. Oudweg 4 Almere, Flevoland, NL 1314 CH For example, a heron describes where he gets his lunch and a dead tree expresses how it is, in fact, bursting with life. The collaboration between the Amsterdam and Almere municipalities, Pakhuis de Zwijger, Avanti Almere, architects, animators, audio makers, illustrators, and builders creates a special cross-pollination of design, expertise and perspective. From costume design and audio narration to painting and planting, everyone’s contribution creates a layered and multi-voiced narrative where all the parts seamlessly integrate and build on each other. If we want to get an understanding of nature, we must listen to it. While wandering through six themed gardens, visitors can listen to urban inhabitants’ stimulating and surprising perspectives. Joost searches for a serene simplicity, combining clear lines, robust materials and luscious planting into places that grow more exuberant over time. The garden as a room, not belonging to mankind, but to nature. https://500px.com/p/mitchellnkhhaynes is visiting lecturer at Technical University Delft, the Academy of Architecture Amsterdam, the Academy of Architecture Rotterdam and member of the Talent Building Committee of the Creative Industries Fund. Together with landscape architect Thijs de Zeeuw, Kossmanndejong developed the concept for the Floriade School Garden for the municipalities of Amsterdam and Almere. Audio encounters with inspiring humans and non-humans from Amsterdam and Almere showcase how anyone can contribute to a nature-inclusive future. Visitors discover how urban tree planters, material choreographers, nature optimists and a boy searching for herbs in the pavement make their cities greener. Joost Emmerik (°1979) is a garden and landscape architect. Trained as an architect and urban designer at Technical University Delft in The Netherlands, he works as a designer and researcher of outdoor spaces. The firm belief in the evoking power of gardens and a need for them in this day and age form the basis of his work.