A bird's-eye rendering of the Italy Garden at the 15th China (Wenzhou) International Garden Expo. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]
At the 15th China (Wenzhou) International Garden Expo, scheduled from April to July 2026, the Italy Garden will present a 2,500-square-meter space highlighting the shared ecological values and cultural connections between China and Italy.
The project was launched by overseas Wenzhou communities in Milan, whose members mobilized funding and expertise to help realize the design. Milan and Wenzhou enjoy long-standing ties in trade, culture, and urban exchange, reinforced by a large overseas Chinese community — including over 40,000 Wenzhou natives living in Milan.
With support from Wenzhou authorities, project sponsors partnered with Stefano Boeri Architetti — the globally renowned studio behind the Vertical Forest — to create a garden that integrates Mediterranean aesthetics with Wenzhou's natural heritage.
Designers drew inspiration from the parallels between Wencheng's Nantian Terrace in Wenzhou and Italy's Ligurian terraced hillsides, both reflecting centuries of agricultural wisdom in shaping steep terrain.
An interior rendering of the Italy Garden. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]
The Italy Garden features a distinctive architectural language, including slender colonnades inspired by Roman temples and Italian porticos, paired with transparent glass facades that blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor. A five-level terraced landscape, rising 14 meters, unfolds in themed color bands echoing both Ligurian terraces and Wencheng's rice fields.
In line with Boeri's ecological design philosophy, the structure incorporates a green roof for rainwater collection, climate moderation, and acoustic buffering. Mediterranean species such as cypress, olive, and stone pine are combined with local flora to ensure year-round scenery.
After the expo, planners aim to transform the Italy Garden into a permanent cultural venue showcasing Wenzhou's history, art, and craftsmanship — offering the public a new space to experience nature, architecture, and international design.
