Following the Screening of “Five Seasons: The Gardens
of Piet Oudolf”

Landscape Designer: Piet Oudolf has lived and worked in Hummelo, Netherlands, since 1982, where he started a nursery with his wife Anja to grow perennials. Oudolf’s garden has since become renowned for its radical approach and ideas about planting design. He also cofounded Future Plants, a company specialising in selecting, growing, breeding and protecting plants for landscaping and public areas. His recent projects include No. 5 Culture Chanel in Paris, the High Line in New York, Lurie Garden, Millennium Park in Chicago, Serpentine Gallery in London and the Venice Biennale in Italy. Oudolf is also a successful author, having co-written numerous books, such as “Planting: A New Perspective” (2013), “Landscapes in Landscapes” (2011), and “Planting Design: Gardens in Time and Space” (2005). In his 35-year career, Oudolf has achieved international acclaim and has recently been awarded an Honorary Fellowship from RIBA for developing radical ideas in planting design (2012) and the Prince Bernhard Cultural Foundation Award (2013).

Film Director: Thomas Piper is an award-winning, non-fiction filmmaker, specializing in documenting the contemporary arts. He has directed, photographed and edited over 30 films on subjects including the visual artists Pablo Picasso, Ellsworth Kelly, Sol LeWitt, Alex Katz, and Kiki Smith; architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, Peter Eisenman, Jeanne Gang, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Thom Mayne, Jean Nouvel, and Steven Holl; and the writer James Salter. Piper is Director of Production for the Checkerboard Film Foundation and is responsible for directing, shooting, and editing long-format documentaries on individuals who have made important contributions to the contemporary arts.

Moderator: Kyle Bergman, an architect by profession, founded the Architecture & Design Film Festival (ADFF) in 2009 and serves as its festival director. He has always recognized the strong connection between architecture and film. ADFF provides a unique opportunity to educate, entertain and engage people who are passionate about the world of architecture and design. Now in its 13th season, ADFF has grown to become the largest film festival dedicated to the creative spirit of architecture and design. Bergman also serves as president for Pacific Rim Park (PRP) whose mission is to use the process of designing and building parks as a tool to connect people and communities around the Pacific. An entrepreneur at heart, Bergman founded Alt Spec in 1999, a publishing company that produced a visual resource of unique and alternative products for architects and designers.