by Roberto Malini
In the heart of Pesaro, near Arnaldo Pomodoro’s Sfera Grande, a new scenario comes to life that fascinates citizens and tourists, but also sparks a heated debate regarding its position between the sculpture which is one of the symbols of the city and the seafront.
We are talking about the new flowerbeds in Piazzale della Libertà. These green spaces, designed by the Aspes gardeners following the lines of topiary art, transform the surrounding environment into a bio-installation, where the abstract geometries fit into a place dear to the people of Pesaro.
Topiary art, also known by the Latin expression “ars topiaria”, is a form of artistic gardening that has ancient origins, dating back to the era of ancient Rome. However, in Pesaro, this age-old practice is renewed in a contemporary context, giving life to a cubist garden that represents something new for the citizens.
The flowerbeds in Piazzale della Libertà are characterized by geometric shapes that are essential and bold at the same time, obtained thanks to the skilful use of climbing plants. With the help of supports of various shapes – cones, spheres, parallelepipeds and spirals – the plants climb naturally, taking on contours and lines that challenge the traditional conception of the lawn or garden.
Thus the “cubist garden” of Pesaro attracts attention not only for its visual appeal, but also for its traditional roots, which are part of the history of garden design in Italy. In ancient Rome this form of creative gardening reached the peak of its expression during the Flavian age, for example at the Templum Pacis, built during the reign of Vespasian.
In the flowerbeds of Pesaro, the use of limited-growing evergreens creates an essential and singular environment, where the shades of green of the plants will soon blend with the colors of the gravels that will be laid around the climbers. The expected result is a three-dimensional work with a “cubist” impact which already now, nearing completion, invites spectators to reflect on the relationship between form and nature, past and present.
In an era in which cities are moving towards an increasingly consistent presence of plants, even in historic places, the Cubist garden of Pesaro stands out for the ways in which recognized art can dialogue harmoniously with garden art solutions , creating unique and evocative spaces which, although controversial, aim to give emotions to those who observe them.
