On the banks of the Huangpu in Shanghai, China’s largest city, lies the financial and business district Pudong. The district is located on the east bank of the river, opposite the historic centre of Puxi. A 21 kilometre stretch of this east bank has been reconstructed according to a design by the French firm Agence Ter. The city council wants to upgrade the waterfront – transforming the old industrial character – to include a variety of functions: soft transportation, ecology, public spaces, activities and economy. The park-like strip of land creates an interface with the surrounding neighbourhoods and the river. Existing ferry stations will be developed into urban hubs for public transport, enhancing the accessibility of the riverbank. Pedestrian bridges have been built along the length of the bank to improve the connectivity.

The riverbank has been organised into three different paths. The main path is a pedestrian promenade with a range of temporary and permanent leisure activities and facilities such as street food, playgrounds and activity lawns. For cyclists, joggers and other sporty types there is a path with fixed and mobile activities including fitness training support, ping-pong tables and sports fields. A discovery path reveals the natural, cultural and architectural heritage of the riverbank. The paths meander, occasionally running parallel to each other and at other times going their own way. The newly landscaped strip includes height differences, providing views of the river as well as the metropolitan landscape. Every other kilometre an unusual landmark resembling a lighthouse houses a specially designed information system.

A main feature of the riverbank is the Manlizui Park, which was constructed on the site of a former concrete plant. The park not only provides splendid views of the river and the city centre, but also hosts several outdoor play areas. A rarity in Shanghai.

Trees in art, trees as art, trees as saviours of civilisation. Fondation Cartier in Paris hosts Nous les Arbres until 5 January 2020. The exhibition displays the reflections of international artists, scientists and philosophers on the life of trees. The theme is inspired by the relatively new scientific discovery that trees have feelings and memories. According to the organisers, this could yield solutions for the current climate crisis. In a chock-full room, the exhibits tell stories of knowledge, beauty and destruction. Nous les Arbres is an appeal to the public, also reflected in the thought-provoking title of the exhibition.

Drawings, images, installations and films by the 48 contributors make the exhibition diverse and surprising. The film EXIT by architectural firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro is as impressive as it is frightening. Compiled from an enormous amount of data collected worldwide, it addresses migration, climate change and deforestation. In a separate room a video and sound installation about disappearing habitats was created specially for Fondation Cartier by Paraguayan director Paz Encina. At the entrance a film plays: Mon Arbre by photographer Raymond Depardon. On the website you can replay lectures from the programme and the exhibition is accompanied by a large catalogue.

The gallery itself is also worth a visit. The lushly planted terraces and courtyards were designed in 1994 by Lothar Baumgarten and blend in with the glass and steel of the building designed by architect Jean Nouvel. An enormous pot houses the cedar of Lebanon, which was planted in 1823 by romantic poet and botanist Francois-René de Chateaubriand. Art, science and a love of nature have always gone well together.

‘Offering a range of experiences, from green spaces to market halls, eateries, immersive public art and digital media, the square is intended as an ever-changing civic centre where the cultural past, present and future collide.’ The description refers to Yagan Square, part of a major transit hub in the very dense and crowded heart of the city of Perth in Western Australia. The square looks like an enormous building, surrounded by roads, with shopping malls and footbridges that form a kind of arena, creating a very special public space. It is named after Yukan, a warrior of Whadjuk, one of the tribes of the Noongar people who lived in this region. The design – by ASPECT Studios in collaboration with Lyons and iredale pedersen hook architects – is complex and full of references to the cultural, ecological and geological past.

At night, light installations transport you to the outback of Western Australia. The images are projected onto one of the art installations on the square: a large tower made up of 14 columns, symbolising the Noongar language groups. The meandering shape of the canopy is a reference to the lakes that used to be in this area. Studded with thousands of lights, the canopy turns into a colourful and intriguing lighting display after dark. During the day, it provides shade and a sense of coherence in this multi-layered split-level complex where footpaths, meeting areas, playgrounds and water features vie for space. The artistic water features that run through the square are also inspired by the landscape of Western Australia and by the stories of its indigenous people. Eucalyptus trees, wildflower borders and lawns offer a sense of calm in this breathtaking meeting place.

Nature is in the air. For the Dior Spring/Summer 2020 collection, fashion designer and Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri was inspired by Catherine Dior (1917-2008), who had a great passion for flowers and gardens.

The impact of that inspiration was also visible in the impressive set, created to look like an arboretum with more than 100 trees. Chiuri worked on the set together with Coloco, a collective of landscape and design professionals. All the trees will now be replanted as part of several projects, including the creation of urban groves in the heart of Paris and on the site of a former French Air Force base.

While strolling through the trees the guests could look at the tags hanging on each tree, graced with a message #plantingforthefuture and a unique QR code indicating the destination of each specific tree.

Fashion today is not just about making clothes. ‘I have always perceived a fashion show as a way to spread a message, a platform to share my convictions,’ said Chiuri backstage before the show. ‘This season, I also wanted to encourage people to take action.’

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