The Other House unveils ‘Flora For Thought’ in partnership with VIN + OMI during Chelsea Flower Show
As London prepares for the floral festivities that surround the iconic Chelsea Flower Show, The Other House South Kensington has partnered with innovative sustainable design duo, VIN + OMI, to do things a little differently this year. In an exciting display of visual creativity with an underlying sense of playfulness well-known to fans of the celebrated artists, The Other House unveils its new installation:
Flora For Thought – The Other House x VIN + OMI – Display dates: 20th May – 9th June
Launched on 2nd April 2024, The Green Thread is the first creative collaboration between VIN + OMI and The Other House, the expanding group of Residents Clubs, and will act as a platform for innovation in design, culture and sustainability over the coming year. As part of its ongoing partnership ‘The Green Thread’, The Other House has partnered with the Kensington & Chelsea Foundation (K&C Foundation) to use the installation as a platform to raise awareness for key local issues, raised in the foundation’s recent report ‘A Deepening Divide’. The report considers the borough’s extreme wealth disparity, leading to deep-rooted issues with societal and educational exclusion, shocking levels of poverty and differences in life expectancy that are often overlooked.
The installation, unveiled on the 20th May and running for three weeks, will consist of a show-stopping ‘floral’ cascade that will cover The Other House’s main entrance on Harrington Gardens, totally breaking away from tradition.
The whole display, which is what makes this a true VIN + OMI partnership, is that the installation will be made entirely from recycled refuse and, unexpectedly, cabbages.
The refuse used, demonstrating the true beauty of sustainability, will combine tin cans from The Other House, milk cartons from the Sandringham Estate as part of VIN + OMI’s ongoing relationship with the King, and other recyclable materials from VIN + OMI’s workshop.
The UK-sourced cabbages being used will challenge the single-use nature of typical floral displays, whilst highlighting the versatility and beauty of this unassuming floweresque vegetable. Cabbages, which are both cheap to buy for around £0.80p and highly nutritious (rich in vitamin C, fibre, and vitamin K), are a prime example of how something inexpensive can be used in an elevated way, both in design and in the kitchen. What’s more, the installation is being designed and constructed as part of an education programme with UK students who are learning how to recycle waste materials.
The partnership between The Other House, VIN + OMI and K&C Foundation will span far beyond the installation.
On the 20th May, The Other House and VIN + OMI will be hosting a cabbage themed launch dinner, with easy, inexpensive and elevated cabbage-inclusive dishes, the menus and recipes of which will be made accessible to charities and schools within the K&C Foundation network.
After being displayed, the installation will be deconstructed and re-imagined into small pieces of art, donated to three of the K&C Foundation’s chosen partners along with an educational manifesto from VIN + OMI themselves, underscoring the ability of creativity and art to inspire and educate on important subjects. Any surplus cabbages will also be donated.
The K&C Foundation partners being gifted the floral permanent displays, as well as surplus cabbages and cabbage recipes include:
- St Cuthbert’s Centre: an open-door drop-in centre for all marginalised, vulnerable people in Earls Court and the surrounding areas.
- Earls Court Youth Club: a safe and welcoming environment for young people of all abilities and backgrounds to come and enjoy activities aimed at promoting personal, social & educational development.
- Chelsea Theatre: A theatre and state-of-the-art creative and community hub, serving the World’s End and Cremorne estates and beyond.
The Other House and VIN + OMI will continue to work with these chosen charitable organisations to foster education around sustainability and inspire creativity.
Naomi Heaton, Founder of The Other House says, “We’re thrilled to work with VIN + OMI to present ‘Flora For Thought’. This collaboration not only showcases their innovative design but also sparks important conversations about social and environmental responsibility within our own local community in Kensington and Chelsea. We don’t just want to create an installation; we want to cultivate dialogue. From rehoming displays in schools to hosting workshops for local youth, ‘Flora For Thought’ embodies our commitment to fostering eco-conscious creativity and making a positive social impact”.
