“Sowing” in the Expanded Garden

With Expanded Garden, Markus Jeschaunig installs an experimental air-conditioning system on the rooftop terrace of the Eiserne Haus. Plants, water, and wood form a system that cools through shading and evaporation and serves as a social gathering place.

In conversation with artist Markus Jeschaunig and biologist Jonathan Wilfling from the Botanical Garden of the University of Graz, we explore the possibilities of greening a rooftop terrace in the heart of the city in a way that allows it to withstand heat and drought while also providing cooling. Which plants can be grown? How much care do they require, and what potential problems need to be considered?