Plant the Future is a company that recently caught my attention when I wrote about The Assemblage and has kept me captivated ever since . Their work shows impeccable alignment with their company’s ethos, combining plant life, architecture, and design to create environments that promote wellbeing. This correlates directly with Laurence Carr Design’s mission to achieve wellness and replenishment for our clients through the use of modern and ancient techniques, including biophilia.
Here, we are honored to share an interview with Paloma Teppa about the genesis of Plant the Future, the healing power of plant life, and the value of connecting with nature in every space one inhabits. She and her husband, Yair Marcoschamer, are the visionaries behind Plant the Future Design Studio.
LCD: We understand biophilia as integral to the design process when a person or a project seeks alignment. How did you develop a business model based first on this very belief?
PT: The concept began with the deep desire I felt to be close to nature. Since I was a child, I have felt a connection with other living things like plants and animals. When I started Plant the Future, I began to interact with plants on a daily basis and I found that they helped me heal. I realized that I needed to pass on this healing onto others and show them how to create that deep connection. My life’s work is to bring people back to nature. If you are able to reconnect with the purity of nature, you will be able to get to know your inner self. Plants, animals and humans are all connected, we breathe the same air, we are all one.
LCD: What was the ramp-up stage like for your business in such a niche market?
PT: It was a very positive experience because plants are for everyone. Every year that I grew my business, there was more response because it is something innate in humans to be surrounded by plants. Coexisting with plants is already our natural environment.
LCD: Do you find that clients require a lot of coaching or has the concept and value of biophilia become so widely accepted that you spend more time designing schemes than educating?
PT: The clients that contact us are already quite aware and clear of the necessity of living with Biophilia. I find that the public is much more open to this new consciousness than when I first started. I think it is the beginning of change and growth. Being in touch with nature is not a trend, it is the reality of our life.
LCD: How does Plant the Future approach the assessment phase with clients and subsequently determine what plants should be placed where?
PT: There are infinite options, but what we look for is the necessary functions of the space. Based on the time, activity and function, we determine what plants we will introduce into their lives. The use of the space determines how much biophilia is needed to create peace and comfort for their life in that environment. Our priority is the longevity of both people and the plants in the space.
LCD: Are there other ancient or traditional techniques that integrate into your designs? If so, which and why?
PT: Yes, I think often through the visual language of Ikebana and Feng Shui. I love learning from other cultures because it helps us connect with our roots. I am always looking to understand traditions different from mine. I like to design by being very aware to how things grow in nature. I observe how different aspects in an ecosystem are born, grow and relate to one another. Nature is the greatest master, she teaches me how to create an ideal natural environment.
LCD: What is your advice for those looking to start integrating plantlife into their homes, hospitality and commercial spaces more intentionally?
PT: I recommend to start with cacti, because they are very resilient and have low maintenance which makes them ideal for beginners. Once you find confidence in your relationship, you can integrate tropical foliage, orchids, or bonsais that require more frequent care. For commercial or hospitality spaces, that want minimal to no care, we can also recommend designing with natural preserved plants that give the texture, look and feel of nature but require no maintenance.
LCD: What is your favorite project or installation you have ever done? Why?
PT: I give the smallest tabletop plant to the largest installation the same devotion and care. However, the most growth for my design practice has come from our relationship with the 1 Hotel & Homes in South Beach. It brought me into a much larger scale of design.
LCD: Why do you believe it is important that humans seek deep connection with their environment?
PT: If you find a deep connection with nature, you will find the way to understanding your deepest self. We can all be much more aware to the truth that is in nature. It will slowly tell you the meaning of life. Plants help you to understand yourself, why you are alive, what is important, and find the purpose of your existence. Once you know this to be true, you will live a life in plentitude, wisdom and peace.
LCD: What do you find gratifying about fusing art, architecture, design, and nature?
PT: I would love to include even more disciplines such as music, fashion, food in my practice of Biophilia for personal growth and healing. I see art, architecture and design as a way to improve the quality of life of a person and create peace in their life. It is a truth that is almost imperceptible because plants give us pure, true love through their silence.
All Photos by Livio Mancinelli. Courtesy of Plant The Future.
For more on Plant The Future, visit their website PlantTheFuture.com and for up-to-date information on installations, be sure to follow them on social media at:
Instagram:@PlantTheFuture
Facebook: /PlantTheFuture
Pinterest: /palomateppa/plant-the-future/
