In a conversation between Piet Oudolf and Arjan Boekel of De Bloeimeesters, they reveal the potential of what Oudolf calls the “wild-garden” approach to planting in public space. Oudolf speaks about how limiting constraints and planting regulations in public space could be overcome through tendering, the loosening of the division between native and non-native plants, garden-making as opposed to nature-making, seeing beauty in detail, and understanding the four-dimensional craft that unfolds across seasons. This is a sequel to the conversation we shared recently. This time, they share tips on expanding the strategy — and below, the Superbloei case study shows what that looks like in practice.

The project featured in the video began when the Arnhem city council presented an ambitious vision for a radical greening of the city. Commissioned by the municipality, LOLA Landscape Architects studied the area and developed several greening proposals, one of which was Superbloei — a project to remove pavement and increase biodiversity around the Prinsenhof. For the planting design, LOLA teamed up with Arjan Boekel.

Superbloei Case Study: From experiment to ecological exemplary project

What began two years ago as a temporary greening of the Bestuurskwartier in Arnhem has developed into an ecologically inspiring example of how a public space can be transformed. The Superbloei project reflects innovative ideas regarding greening, biodiversity, management, and climate adaptation.

Hybrid Planting Strategy

The goal is to use the spectacular effect of Superbloom to generate enthusiasm for biodiversity, while simultaneously building a robust, future-proof ecosystem. The Superbloom concept drew inspiration from natural phenomena in California and the United Kingdom, where immense bursts of colorful annuals sometimes occur thanks to optimal weather conditions. Arjan Boekel (designer) proposed enriching this approach by introducing perennials that would eventually take over the role of the annuals. This hybrid system creates a varied spectacle in the first few years and evolves into more stable vegetation that is much easier to maintain in the long term. Furthermore, it contributes to increasing biodiversity and improves the climate resilience of the green space, making it more resistant to drought, extreme heat, and heavy rainfall.

Challenges and solutions in management

– An important aspect of success lies in management. This project requires specialized knowledge and dedication. You cannot leave this to standard maintenance teams. Specialized knowledge of plants and ecology is essential.
– You must understand what you are managing—knowing when to intervene and when to let things happen naturally.
– Can this concept also be applied elsewhere within municipalities?
– Not every location is suitable for this approach, but with good coordination and knowledge, it can be successful in many more places. You really need to look at the soil conditions, the location, and the available management.
– Through proper tendering, conscious management, and integrated collaboration, similar projects can be realized. You do not have to copy it exactly, but the principles are universally applicable.

As soon as you give designers room to experiment with ecology and planting, opportunities arise that you would achieve with traditional frameworks. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of administrative courage (in this case, Province of Gelderland).
It requires administrators who dare to deviate from the beaten path.

But if they do, they get something back that has an impact on ecology, climate, and quality of life.