Summer Flower Show at Phipps lives harmoniously with nature
Local interior designers take on Phipps' popular annual Summer Flower Show, the show is the result of a challenge Phipps posed to Pittsburgh-based interior designers, Propose a design that will cross boundaries and display sustainable material in a new way. Mary Olliffe of Devlin Architecture's larger-than-life blooms in the East Room are constructed from sustainable materials such as linoleum, resin and PVC-free fabrics.
Local interior designers take on Phipps' popular annual Summer Flower Show, the show is the result of a challenge Phipps posed to Pittsburgh-based interior designers, Propose a design that will cross boundaries and display sustainable material in a new way. Vicci Franz's design in the Palm Court blends interior and exterior, with a living wall and modern furniture made of discarded street signs.
Local interior designers take on Phipps' popular annual Summer Flower Show, the show is the result of a challenge Phipps posed to Pittsburgh-based interior designers, Propose a design that will cross boundaries and display sustainable material in a new way. Designed by Fran Colby of Colby Design and Anne Ditmanson, the Sunken Garden displays low-energy lighting and the life cycle of bamboo.
Local interior designers take on Phipps' popular annual Summer Flower Show, the show is the result of a challenge Phipps posed to Pittsburgh-based interior designers, Propose a design that will cross boundaries and display sustainable material in a new way. Nancy Barsotti's twist on a traditional Victorian-era sitting room includes a cool aluminum chaise with glass mosaic pillows and a soft ring of water in the Victoria Room.
Dave Rafferty
? Local interior designers take on Phipps’ popular annual Summer Flower Show, the show is the result of a challenge Phipps posed to Pittsburgh-based interior designers, Propose a design that will cross boundaries and display sustainable material in a new way. Farm-to-feast theme envisioned by Bill Kolano with the Interiors Group at Kolano Design features a formal vegetable garden planted next to a dining room table set for an elegant dinner. Green mannequins dressed in formalwear made of dried plant material complete the scene in the South Conservatory.
Dave Rafferty
? Local interior designers take on Phipps’ popular annual Summer Flower Show, the show is the result of a challenge Phipps posed to Pittsburgh-based interior designers, Propose a design that will cross boundaries and display sustainable material in a new way. Nancy Drew interprets fire and water using feng shui principles, and incorporating outdoor structure built from reclaimed barn wood in the Serptentine Room.
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh offered a challenge and interior designers responded in a fascinating way.
?The result is “Summer Flower Show: Living Harmoniously with Nature,” which is on display at the Schenley Park-based site through Sept. 27. The show features beautiful summer flowers such as nemesias, zinnias and marigolds showcased with the winning proposals of nine Pittsburgh interior designers who created intriguing installations that cross boundaries to display sustainable materials in a new way.
“People are loving it,” said Liz Fetchin, marketing and communications manager for Phipps. “We’re getting a lot of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs.’ People are surprised that sustainable art can be so beautiful and colorful and fun.”
Visitors see the first installation in the Welcome Center as they enter Phipps. Noell Weaver of Michael Baker Corp. offers “Earth’s Healing Wheel,” a sculptural representation based on a Native American healing wheel. The 12-foot tall sculpture is made of glass, wood, stones and fabric, and incorporates male and female figures holding up the earth.
Visitors are asked to write promises to the earth that can be attached to the sculpture. A look at some include “I will plan better ways to reduce automobile use,” “I will help trees” and “Stanley will help the world by being a better person.”
The Palm Court features Vicci Frank’s creation that blends interior and exterior designs with a living wall of tropical flowers designed by Phipps horticulturists and modern furniture made from recycled traffic signs in red, black and white.
A high note is the living topiary balls hanging from the ceiling that feature the beautiful Euphoria Diamond Frost.
In the Serpentine Room, designer Nancy Drew uses the idea of feng shui to interpret fire and water.
“The left-hand of the room is hot colors — oranges and reds — and the right side are all cool colors — purples and blues,” noted Fetchin.
The plants include Sky Blue Edging Lobelia, Dazzle-Me-Lilac Nemesia, Cranberry Improved Nemesia and Discovery Orange Marigolds and Profusion Yellow Zinnias.
In addition, Drew took reclaimed barn wood to make structures, such as creating a bench before a pretend bonfire, on the left side of the room. The right side offers a cool pool of water.
Lisa Granger used plastic and glass bottles to create interesting arrangements in the Fern Room, including a hanging basket that features a cascade made from cut bottles.
The South Conservatory is a breath-taking display of green designed by Bill Kolano with the Interiors Group at Kolano DesignDeisgn with a Farm-to-Feast theme. Here, mannequins wearing elegant outfits composed from organic materials attend a dinner party beside a formal garden. The garden features onions, beans, lettuces, cabbage and apple trees that also show up on the dinner table. Adorable animals, such as squirrels and a dog, appear in topiaries. Meanwhile, the side beds in this room show off the elegance of Swiss chard, kale, lettuces and beets.
“It shows that edible can be beautiful,” noted Fetchin.
The life cycle of bamboo is featured in the Sunken Garden, designed by Fran Colby of Colby Design and Anne Ditmanson. Visitors are drawn to a topiary panda in the center with materials grown in the conservatory’s production greenhouses. The room includes bamboo, Knock Out Radrazz and Landmark Citrus Lantana while mirrors in fabric flowers pick up visitors faces.
Nancy Barsotti based her designs on a traditional Victorian sitting room for the Victoria Room. They include a fainting couch made from aluminum that holds mosaic pillows made from glass. Heavy upholstery from the era is replaced with a water feature that offers a ring of rain. Artist Vi Laox created glass stepping stones.
The East Room offers a whimsical design with eye-catching large, fantastic flowers that were made with linoleum, resin and rubber by Mary Olliffee of Devlin Architecture.
“She installed a shattered mirror in the back so people could see themselves in the space,” said Fetchin.
In addition, visitors to Phipps can enjoy plants outside in the summer, including the Children’s Discovery Garden, Japanese bonsai display and the outdoor garden.
Phipps Conservatory is open daily from 9:30?a.m. to 5?p.m. and until 9?p.m. on Fridays. For more information, visit www.phipps.conservatory.org.