Mars Farm is being developed as an innovative permanent flower garden in Guangzhou – otherwise known as China’s Flower City. It will be the first and biggest flower garden designed for educational purposes in China. It has been designed by our Chairman Laurie Chetwood in collaboration with Creativersal International and the Guangzhou government. The scheme explores the relationship between human beings and outer space in the future.

The garden has been designed as a flexible and adaptable framework that can be altered through different seasons based on the local conditions with the minimum of effort, cost and time. It will provide active and passive educational, recreational and cultural opportunities for school children from ages 6-12 and for international visitors

The scheme incorporates the site’s existing flower nurseries and water feature, integrating with current and proposed spaces, buildings and infrastructure.  The aim of the project is to help facilitate the creation of memorable and attractive international garden designs which are educational. This engrosses visitors through a multi-dimensional experience designed and planted to engage the senses of sight, sound, touch, smell and taste.  The aim is to harmonise all of the five sense together to create a sixth sense for the visitor, one of true wellbeing.

Visitor experience routes will link the garden’s feature and sensory spaces.  These include a geodesic dome ‘greenhouse’ and insect hotels with individual insect hotel ‘room’ boxes prepared by children at school or during their visit and added to the structure. Green walls will showcase growing herbs and food, with outdoor classrooms exploring propagation and floriculture, and teaching about olericulture and pomology for the production and use of vegetables and fruits

The amphitheatre, exhibition hall, roof top terraces, lakeside seating and a canteen with a rooftop picnic area will provide a wide range of visitor facilities.  Focus areas include a Nature Garden, a Sun Garden, the Earth Garden that reconnects people with nature on the earth, and the futuristic Mars Garden exploring the relationship between human beings and outer space in the future.

Laurie Chetwood is an advocate of pushing boundaries in design and the importance of art, architecture and landscape.  He has designed five medal winning Show Gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and in 2022 was invited to design a new urban plaza for the United Nations Biodiversity Convention (COP15) hosted by the city of Kunming, China.

Laurie is currently developing a ground-breaking project in the UK in which art, architecture and landscape will drive a landmark circular living community and educational resource for people to visit and collaborate on different initiatives to engender happiness and wellbeing.

Mars Farm is one of a number of projects we are currently working on within China. Chetwoods China is led by Laurie Chetwood, Chairman, Tim Ward, CEO, Reza Esmaeeli, Director and Anny Fan, Head of China Business Development

To discuss opportunities in China contact:

Anny Fan

020 7490 2400

anny.fan@chetwoods.com‍

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