A miniature journey through Germany

EVENTS

The Client: The German National Tourist Board

Our collaboration with the German Tourist Board celebrates the relationship between Germany’s cultural heritage and its natural landscapes, using handmade dioramas to recreate iconic German landmarks and tourist destinations.

For this event, Plant Designs crafted five miniature landscapes encased in glass, representing unique areas of German tourism.

The German Tourist Board approached us to create a one of a kind, immersive way of bringing the story of Germany to life and inspire a UK audience to discover the country for themselves.

They wanted something that would celebrate the country’s quintessential man-made structures and the natural world surrounding them, combining them in an engaging and thought-provoking way.

The five dioramas we created were to act as a microcosm of Germany, bringing together architecture and history against a natural, organic backdrop. Preserved and dried foliage provide the natural foundation, complemented by intricate architectural details and carefully crafted miniature elements.

Each handmade piece was intended to tell the viewer a story of Germany, something completely unique to the country’s culture and heritage, allowing them to experience its diverse landscapes and promote tourism by making them wish to see it in person.

Blending history and culture with nature to form full and well-rounded impressions of everything Germany.

To meet the brief, we created a series of handcrafted terrariums, each inspired by a different aspect of German scenery, architecture, and culture.

To maximise the storytelling of each unique diorama, every element was carefully considered and handmade by our team, particularly the purposeful placement of natural materials. Hours of intricate work went into each terrarium, allowing us to create a collection that was completely bespoke to the client.

By combining recognisable landmarks with living landscapes, the terrariums transformed familiar elements of Germany into something unexpected and engaging , highlighting the natural beauty of the country alongside the man-made landmarks within them.

One of the most internationally recognisable landmarks in Germany, we recreated a section of The Berlin Wall complete with its iconic murals. The wall is placed in the centre of the terrarium, acting as a dividing line between the planted and unplanted undergrowth. While the barren side reflects a past era of division, the vibrant greenery symbolises the hope and renewal of the new era. It’s a poignant reminder of how life overcomes artificial barriers. This resilience is mirrored in the wall’s graffiti and murals, which are also represented in this replica; what began as protests became an open-air art exhibition in 1990, ultimately fueling the city’s modern art scene.

We recreated this iconic neo-Gothic castle in a dramatic hilltop setting, surrounded by densely planted greenery. Nature serves as a powerful backdrop here, accentuating the castle’s elevated position, romantic character, and striking architectural presence. Built in the 19th century, Neuschwanstein was the Alpine retreat dreamt up by Bavarian King Ludwig II as a sanctuary away from Munich. Inspired by the Romantic movement and the mythical landscapes depicted in Wagner’s operas, the castle embodies Germany’s enduring fairytale aesthetic. Layered preserved planting surrounds the base of the terrarium that, while adding to the drama of the castle’s location, adds the air of mystery and intrigue so often associated with Germany’s gothic, fairytale heritage.

A miniature lighthouse sits within a carefully constructed natural environment, using texture, planting, and materials that evoke the landscape and the relationship between Germany's architecture and coastline.

This diorama represents a traditional village scene, with a central square complete with miniature figurines to infer the bustling nature of these residential spaces. This example shows a more intimate side of German culture, while the surrounding greenery highlights the close relationship between nature and everyday village life.

The most heavily planted of the five terrariums, the woodland house immerses a tiny home within an abundant natural landscape. We used dense planting around the structure to create the feeling of an intimate, secluded woodland environment. A winding road runs through the undergrowth with a model car on it, giving viewers the impression of a frozen moment in time that they are allowed to be a part of. With such an immersive scene, we were able to inspire curiosity by inviting viewers to imagine themselves within the landscape, turning a miniature recreation into a glimpse of somewhere they could experience in person.

By combining recognisable landmarks with living landscapes, the dioramas created a natural talking point and encouraged guests to look closer, discover the details, and engage with the stories behind each scene. The terrariums provided a thoughtful way to communicate the German Tourist Board’s vision, taking familiar elements of German culture and tourism and turning them into something entirely new.

For us, the project demonstrates the value of creating truly bespoke event experiences. By taking the time to understand our clients, their audience and their vision, we can apply our wealth of plant, horticultural and craft expertise to create something that is entirely personal to them. From the research behind each scene to the hours of intricate crafting, every detail was considered with the client’s objectives in mind.

The result was more than a collection of miniature landscapes; it was a unique expression of the German Tourist Board’s identity, bringing their story to life through nature and thoughtful design to inspire a sense of curiosity and discovery beyond the terrariums themselves.

Our skilled events production team is dedicated to creating bespoke, handcrafted displays to capture your unique vision and bring your brand to life.

If you’re ready to leave a lasting impression on your customers, contact our team today.