davines unveils scientific garden designed by tommaso del buono

conceived by landscape architect tommaso del buono of studio del buono gazerwitz, the italian haircare brand davines has recently presented its ‘scientific garden’ to designboom. located in the company’s headquarters on the outskirts of parma, italy, the new green area marks the completion of the davines village, which was planned by matteo thun & partners studio. designed to symbolize values of beauty, sustainability and wellbeing, the garden provides ingredients for the formulations while also offering a tranquil space for employees and visitors to enjoy.

image courtesy of davines (also main image)

spanning an area of approximately 3,000 m2, the plan of the garden is formed in a large circle measuring 60 meters in diameter, with smaller squares contained within. the combination of these shapes has been chosen purposely by del buono as the circle intends to represent the spiritual dimension of life, while in contrast, the rigid squares embody more material elements.

image © designboom

‘to design davines scientific garden we have been inspired by two elements: the rural landscape surrounding the company and the garden of simples of padua (unesco world heritage site), universally recognized as the origin of all the botanical gardens in the world. a historical point of reference of great relevance that has been the cradle of the tie between nature and science for centuries. the structure of the scientific garden reproduces its architectural plan: a square inscribed in a large circle. this geometric shape and its deep symbolic value are an explicit reference to circularity as a key concept of davines’ sustainable approach.’ comments tommaso del buono, co-founder of the del buono gazerwitz practice.

image courtesy of davines

designed as a place for a ‘quick recharge’, the garden features pergolas that are equipped with tables and power sockets, inviting davines employees to work outdoors and reap the proven benefits of being close to nature. in addition to the numerous varieties of plants, the design also makes reference to the historic ‘paradise gardens’ from iran by incorporating key elements of water. a large fountain sits at the center, with narrow streams and pools meandering around, symbolizing life and creation.

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the garden is split into four areas for different categories of plants: the garden of aromatic plants, the garden of medicinal plants, the garden of tinting plants and the garden of perfumed plants. developed in cooperation with the university of florence, the species have been selected based on their functions and scientific properties, which are useful for the research of the group’s R&D division. a large greenhouse, which was designed and manufactured in england, also occupies the space and intends to house plants that will also be used for research.

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‘the idea of a botanical garden dedicated to scientific research has always been in my mind. the fact that science and nature – the two souls of our reality – could not only coexist, but also work together in a synergistic harmony is a long-standing dream that now comes true. the scientific garden will offer davines and comfort zone laboratories a direct contact with nature and its infinite resources, working both as an instrument and a source of inspiration for their daily work.’ – davide bollati, davines group chairman.

image courtesy of davines

the circle that defines the garden is formed by a double hedge, which functions not only to contain the garden but also to protect the plants from adverse weather conditions. outside the large circle, the final part in del buono’s design is marked by the integration of an arboretum. representing the international spirit of the company, davines asked its customers from all over the world to suggest a tree from their home nation, resulting in a diverse selection of species that perfectly represents the philosophy of davines.

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‘the planting of the last tree actually marks the beginning and not the end of our project’, comments del buono. ‘now it will be nature’s unpredictability to define growth. together with the full time gardeners, we are considering with davines the possibility of involving also the employees who want it in the daily care of some sections of the scientific garden. looking after a garden is deeply regenerative, it makes us feel useful and eliminates the feeling of solitude that often assails us in cities.’