Artificial Greenhouse is a speculative research project developed in 2022 in collaboration with De Vormforensen, exploring the future of the (artificial) plant in a world where nature, technology, and human intervention are increasingly intertwined.

The project departs from a fundamental question: what is the future of the (art)plant? To investigate this, Artificial Greenhouse brought together perspectives from philosophy, futurology, design, and artificial intelligence. We engaged in conversations with the futurists of Studio Monnik about possible futures of nature and ecological systems, and with botanical philosopher Norbert Peeters about the essence of plant life. Questioning at what point a plant ceases to be a plant, and whether artificial life forms can claim a similar status.

As part of the research, we formulated a prompt for AI to generate new forms of artificial flowers. This resulted in speculative species that exist somewhere between nature and simulation. These digital organisms were released as NFT seeds, each accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. Through this contract, buyers became caretakers, committing to protect their seed and prevent further cross-pollination—introducing themes of ownership, responsibility, and control within a digital ecosystem.

Artificial Greenhouse was presented during Dutch Design Week in the garden of Kazerne. The exhibition consisted of three greenhouses, each offering a distinct visual translation of the research and accompanied by a dedicated essay. Together, they formed an artificial ecosystem that invited visitors to reflect on growth, reproduction, authorship, and the increasingly blurred boundaries between the natural and the artificial.

The project was funded by Stimuleringsfonds