I’d Rather Be a Forest than a Street

In 2011, the façade of Rotterdam’s city hall annex received a remarkable transformation through the project I’d Rather Be a Forest than a Street by 2012Architecten. This temporary artwork turned the concrete exterior into a vibrant vertical garden filled with blooming flowers and plants that changed with the seasons. Mothership was responsible for community participation, project management, and execution.

In black containers arranged like tree trunks, plants grew into lush green “trees.” Irrigation was managed through an innovative system that collected and distributed rainwater. Local residents and business owners from the area surrounding the city hall annex selected the winning design themselves through a competition organized by Mothership.

The client for this project was the Department of Urban Development of the Municipality of Rotterdam, which aimed to demonstrate how art and greening can together contribute to a more pleasant urban living environment.

This artwork not only made the city flourish but also sent a powerful message about sustainability, imagination, and civic participation in urban spaces.