Zaha Hadid and Paola Navone’s Secret Garden Transforms a Garden in Milan

A fantastical <a href="http://inhabitat.com/a-look-into-san-franciscos-downtown-secret-gardens/" target="_blank">Secret Garden</a> has been realized for the Salone Del Mobile 2012, with breathtaking installations by <a href="http://www.paolanavone.it/" target="_blank">Paola Navone</a> and <a href="http://www.zaha-hadid.com/" target="_blank">Zaha Hadid</a>. The Orto Botanico of Brera has been transformed from its already lush gardens into two installations that join Navone with artisan glass makers <a href="http://www.barovier.com/" target="_blank">Barovier &amp; Toso</a>, and Hadid with stone design company, <a href="http://www.citco.it/" target="_blank">Citco</a>. The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/event/sakura-matsuri-cherry-blossom-festival-at-the-brooklyn-botanic-gardens/" target="_blank">gorgeous interactive garden</a> served as a nature infused respite for visitors to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2012-superstudio/" target="_blank">Milan Design Week</a>.

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/photos-inhabitat-tours-brooklyn-botanic-gardens-new-green-roofed-visitor-center/" target="_blank">botanical garden</a> can be found in Milan’s Brera neighborhood, between the Accademia Art Museum and historical roman houses.

This idyllic landscape is the perfect setting for the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/the-rooftop-gardens-at-rockefeller-center-are-a-hidden-urban-treasure/" target="_blank">unique garden</a>, and subsequent art installations that take over during Milan Design Week.

Paola Navone’s indigo orbs dotted the Orto landscape. Navone made the brightly <a href="http://inhabitat.com/woven-willow-sandworm-rises-from-a-belgian-beach/" target="_blank">woven huts from disused hazelnut branches</a> from the garden, which were left around the grounds after spring pruning. The designer collected 10,000 branch fragments, and carefully wove them into hanging orbs, bulbous huts and wooden igloo structures.

Each rounded branch installation holds a treat from Barovier &amp; Toso inside. Visitors can discover blue-hued blown glass and crystal flowers on the underside of the hanging orbs. The round huts are full of exquisitely detailed<a href="http://inhabitat.com/the-invisible-chandelier-reuses-hundreds-of-burnt-out-bulbs-into-one-brilliant-luminaire/" target="_blank">sparkling glass chandeliers</a>, visible through small peep holes in the walls, or by entering each organic structure.

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/zaha-hadids-undulating-green-design-approved-for-serpentine-sackler-gallery/" target="_blank">Hadid</a>’s installation with Citco contrasts the vibrant organic color of Navone’s installation. The vertical marble pavilion emulates meticulously scientific designs found in nature, with a light-catching three dimensional pattern. The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/zaha-hadids-peaceful-nassim-villas-for-singapore/" target="_blank">smooth pavilion</a> is capped at each end with gorgeous bas-reliefs carved within various colors of marble. At night, spotlights change the color and dimensionality of each of the reliefs.

The Secret Garden is a relaxing project that fuses two internationally acclaimed designers with two industry leaders, creating a harmonious installation of nature, design and craft.