Urban space, full of concrete, metal and glass skyscrapers, often lacks greenery and natural beauty. Increasingly, however, designers and artists around the world are introducing new solutions that not only enliven our cities, but also bring utilitarian works of art into them. One of such solutions are XXL pots — impressive and innovative architectural elements that are becoming an integral part of the urban landscape.

XXL pots: Art that inspires and creates community in the city

XXL flower pots are huge plant containers that not only have a practical function, but also an artistic one. Unlike traditional pots, which are small in size and focus mainly on the function of holding plants, XXL pots are becoming the centerpiece of urban spaces. Their enormous size, unique shapes and modern designs attract the attention of passers-by, giving a distinctive look to a particular place.

Moreover, XXL flower pots are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional. Thanks to their size, they can hold large trees and shrubs, thus creating natural green islands in the middle of a concrete jungle. Plants in pots not only decorate the city, but also contribute to improving air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. In addition, XXL pots can also become spatial markers or protective barriers, dividing the urban space into different zones.

Art on a large scale – XXL pots as an urban attraction

XXL pots create unlimited possibilities for artistic expression. Designers, using a variety of materials, create unique compositions that reflect both contemporary minimalism and expressive abstraction. Pots can be made of concrete, steel, wood, glass or plastic, and their surfaces can be decorated with paintings, mosaics, or sculptures. These artistic masterpieces enrich urban spaces and give them a new dynamic.

Painting XXL pots together can be a great idea to activate the local community. Creating such local works of art will be great entertainment for both young and old residents! A great background for such events are the white, smooth XXL Gianto pots from Terra Group, which have already been used in this way, e.g., by the City of Poznań.

Poznan Design Days

A space full of color. How are XXL pots transforming cities?

Artists and designers all over the world see the potential of XXL pots and bring them into urban space with increasing enthusiasm.  Thanks to XXL pots, art is making its way into streets and squares, merging with the daily lives of citizens. XXL pots not only provide us with aesthetic impressions, but also inspire to reflect on the role of art in public spaces.

Why not organize a pot painting event in your town? Graffiti lovers as well as classic art enthusiasts are sure to be delighted! A pot painting action in your city can be an exciting event and a great opportunity to involve the local community in creating artistic and creative spaces. Here are some steps that can help you organize such an action:

• Contact the relevant city authorities or organizations responsible for the management of urban spaces, such as the city hall, the cultural department or the urban greenery board. Discuss your ideas and get permission to carry out pot painting campaigns in public areas.
• Submit a project to the civic budget vote.
• Identify strategic locations in the city, such as squares, parks or streets, where the placement of painted pots will attract the most attention. Choose areas that are highly visible and frequently visited by residents and tourists.
• Inform the local community about the planned pot painting event. You can use various communication channels, such as social media, websites, local newspapers or posters. Encourage residents, art groups, schools, NGOs and local businesses to take part.
• Ensure that you have the necessary tools and materials such as paints, brushes, palettes, rubbish bags, water for washing brushes, etc. Also provide adequate safety equipment such as protective suits and gloves for participants. Organize work zones and provide tables where pots can be painted.
• Ensure photo or video documentation of the pot painting action. Share them on social media, local media, websites, and blogs to promote the participants’ creativity and attract the attention of more people.

Public space is becoming an increasingly popular topic, so it is no wonder that we care about ergonomic solutions, greater comfort for residents and lush greenery in cities. Thanks to the growing social awareness, more and more design offices aim to improve urban space. It is for such initiatives that Polska Gazeta Wyborcza (one of the most popular polish magazines) organized the competition called Humanly Designed, which aims to select unique ideas. Last week, the final gala was held, and we could meet the winners of this year’s edition.

A more sustainable city

Various organizations applied for the competition: associations, designers, foundations, cooperatives, design teams, architects and entrepreneurs. There was even a special category for teenagers under 18 to reward them for their involvement in social initiatives for cities in Poland. All these groups are united by the desire to make cities more pleasant and accessible space for citizens. Sometimes it means launching multi-functional solutions, and other times it means the solutions that are smarter, greener or safer.

The guiding idea of the competition is, above all, to emphasize human needs. Urban space is supposed to serve residents and make them feel comfortable. Cities should be functional, but also pleasant, to encourage people to spend time outdoors!

As the main values of the jury turned out to be very consistent with the vision of Terra Group, we decided to submit Gianto city pots to participate in the competition.

Gianto flower pot—humanly designed multi-functionality

The idea that guided us when submitting Gianto pots to the competition was to emphasize that one pot can provide many creative possibilities. After all, Gianto is a simple, yet unique planter that perfectly adapts to the needs of urban space and changes the environment for the better. Its main task is to launch greenery where it might seem impossible due to lack of access to the ground, underground installations, specific conditions — narrow streets, garage underneath, constructions with load limitations. We designed the Gianto planter so that it would meet even the most difficult conditions posed by urban space, and at the same time it would delight passers-by.

The shape of the Gianto pot is inspired by a classic pot. As a result of playing with the form, new variants were created, which bring additional functionalities. The flattened SITO can be used as a bench, TABLO and GRANDE are the largest models and such a scale is hard to find anywhere else — you can plant trees in them without worrying about space for their roots.

The most important advantages of the Gianto pot are:

• XXL form, because large spaces need properly selected elements of street furniture,
• the possibility of planting beautiful, lush flowers or even trees,
• high-quality material that allows you to choose a variety of colors,
• production in Poland.

A pot that became a bench

A beautifully planted pot encourages you to stay near it as long as possible. This is how the idea for compatible seats with the Gianto pot came about.  They give you a chance to rest surrounded by greenery and in a few moments, the pot changes into a designer city bench.

Wave Bench

The wave-inspired bench is a seat that winds around the Gianto planters. This modular solution easily adapts to the needs and space, and at the same time looks extraordinary. What if you could combine two, three, five, seven pots with a seat? This is not a problem for the Wave bench, because it consists of several basic elements that fit together like building blocks. As a result, a very functional piece of street furniture is created each time. The original shape of the bench makes it possible for different groups of people to sit on it at the same time, and each of them will have space for themselves.

Zebra Bench

A round bench with a Gianto pot in the center gives you great opportunities to personalize the design. Each seat rung may look different, but the effect is phenomenal every time.

Can a city pot connect people?

We wanted our pots not to be just containers planted with plants. That is why we are extremely pleased that Gianto pots often become part of social initiatives: joint planting of plants, a canvas for local artists or a distinctive element of events. Thanks to this, they help to build awareness of the need for everyday contact with nature, respect and care for the common good, and also show that the cooperation of residents leads to beautiful effects.

One function is definitely not enough!

 

The Gianto pot is a decoration, a chance for additional greenery, a promotion for the city, a suitable container for trees, a bench, a railing, an element that separates space, a Christmas decoration, part of a social initiative, a canvas for local artists. We are very happy that we could take part in such an important competition for urban space. We hope you like our idea too! More information about the competition and the list of awarded projects can be found here.