Boulders – fascinating miniature landscapes

Boulders can be found in mountain valleys, on coastlines, in rainforests and in desert canyons.
Particularly fascinating are rocks that have rolled down into the valley, on which plants and mosses have settled over a long period of time, forming a symbiosis between the stone and the vegetation.

On the rough stone surfaces, in the crevices and openings, shrubs, grasses, ferns, mosses and succulents take root. Fragile yet unshakeable, the plants take root where there is actually no foothold. They defy frost, heat and storms. Every blade of grass, every cushion of moss tells a story of survival and adaptation, of nature’s poetic perseverance.

Aplantis founder Gerhard Zemp lives in the heart of the Swiss Alps and, on his mountain hikes, observed the extraordinary plant landscapes on rocks that the glacier left behind in the valleys centuries ago.
Winter snow avalanches or summer debris flows constantly bring new pieces of rock onto the mountain meadows, where mosses, shrubs and even miniature woodlands take root over the years.

The idea gradually took shape in his mind that these natural elements would be an ideal complement to our designed architecture. Through close collaboration between the teams at aplantis and Atelier Vierkant, Shapes inspired by nature were transformed into designed objects. Numerous workshops focusing on plant studies and planting techniques brought the boulders to life.

“In a world that is constantly speeding up, boulders become symbols of tranquillity.”

Gerhard Zemp, aplantis

These miniature landscapes are ideal as powerful design elements in architecture and interior design: in courtyards, the overgrown stones are arranged individually or in groups; in living spaces and foyers, they serve as sculptures; and in open-plan workspaces, they define team areas and characterise communication and quiet zones.

On a smaller scale, they can be found as groups of boulders on sideboards, shelves and desks.