Evolution in Motion:
Utrecht University Botanic Gardens
Client
Utrecht University Botanic Gardens
Design art installations and information boards
Tjep.
Content Design
Studio Louter
Graphic Design
Studio Louter
Construction
Tjep.
Production
Kloosterboer
Evolution in Motion: Utrecht University Botanic Gardens
Location: Utrecht University Botanic Gardens, Utrecht, Netherlands
Year: 2025
Embark on a captivating 900-million-year journey through the evolution of plants at the Evolution Garden, a groundbreaking exhibit at Utrecht University Botanic Gardens. This immersive experience, blending science, art, and nature, invites visitors to explore the dynamic story of plant adaptation and resilience.
A Journey Through Plant Evolution
The Evolution Garden guides visitors along a vibrant yellow path, tracing the remarkable progression of plant life—from ancient mosses to lush ferns, towering trees to radiant flowers. Designed in alignment with the latest scientific classification of plant orders and families, the garden offers a living timeline of botanical history. Studio Louter has crafted eight Key Moments—interactive stations where visitors can read, observe, and engage with the pivotal adaptations that shaped the plant kingdom.
Evolution in Motion
Born from an intensive creative session, the garden’s concept, Evolution Garden, Always in Motion, reflects the ceaseless nature of evolution. Just as plants adapt to shifting seasons and environments, the garden itself embodies movement. A sinuous, curling path, designed by Hemelse Natuur, symbolizes the branching patterns of plant evolution. This path serves as both a navigational guide and a unifying visual identity, weaving through signage and enhancing the garden’s cohesive aesthetic.
Key Moments: Science Meets Interaction
At each of the eight Key Moments, visitors encounter large, beautifully designed signs featuring:
Clear, engaging texts explaining the evolutionary milestone.
Scientific illustrations that bring botanical history to life.
A timeline pinpointing the moment’s place in the 900-million-year story.
Viewing Tips encouraging active exploration, connecting visitors directly with the surrounding flora.
These stations transform passive observation into an interactive discovery of how plants have thrived through adaptation.
Artistic Installations: Movement in Design
Each Key Moment is elevated by a unique artistic installation that abstractly represents an evolutionary leap. These dynamic artworks embody the theme of movement:
Some installations invite visitors to engage physically, such as activating a lever to set elements in motion.
Others reveal their message through the visitor’s own movement, like the mesmerizing Field of Stomata, where walking unveils intricate patterns inspired by plant physiology.
These installations blend art and science, creating moments of wonder that deepen the visitor’s connection to nature.
A Living Lesson in Resilience
The Evolution Garden doesn’t just tell the story of plants—it celebrates their adaptability and enduring presence. As Gijs Steur, Head of Collections Management, shared in NRC (5 June 2025):
“Here you realize how remarkable it is that mosses, without a vascular system, can still grow in so many places... That opens your eyes—and in a way quite different from what a book ever could.”
Visit the Evolution Garden
Step into a world where science, art, and nature converge. The Evolution Garden at Utrecht University Botanic Gardens offers a profound, interactive experience that reveals the beauty and ingenuity of plant evolution. Come witness Evolution in Motion—where every step along the path tells a story of life’s resilience and transformation.