loose leaf studio takes over a disused petrol station with botanical installatio


designboom_using hundreds of giant leaves, wona bae and charlie lawler – otherwise known as loose leaf studio – have created a sculpture entitled ‘fossil’ to consume a former petrol station located in melbourne, australia. the botanical installation, which has been captured by photographer sean fennessy, explores the role of nature and its interaction with the built environment.

much like their previous work, which took over a former 19th century church hall, this new project by loose leafuses natural materials to celebrate the connection between people and nature. by enveloping the disused structure where the pumps once stood, ‘fossil’ intends to respond both to the historical context and current state of the site, allowing the natural form of the leaves to slowly colonize the space before it. by consuming the man-made construction, the artists highlight the importance of nature and offer a glimpse of an urban environment taken over by vegetation.


loose leaf studio’s design approach follows a line of botanical enquiry that draws conceptually from the structure, patterns and systems in the natural world. exploring the intrinsic relationship between humans and nature in the hopes to better understand the importance of the human-nature relationship. by facilitating a meaningful reconnection with natural systems, the artists hope this bond can be both preserved and respected.