Forsoultree: new life from dead wood

Gnizio has unveiled his latest work, Forsoultree, which combines a centuries-old oak trunk with the artist's gesture. The work was installed in part of the Monte Ceccheri Memorial Park in the grounds of the Villa San Michele, creating a unique sensation in the prestigious space where Leonardo da Vinci first experimented with flying machines.

Forsoultree by Luca Gnizio transforms the trunk of a fallen holm oak in an artwork where to reconnect with nature
Photo credit: Alessio Guarino

During the restoration of footpaths through two and a half hectares of beautiful woodland, Frontera Gardens informed the managers of the Villa that they had come across the large trunk of a centuries-old holm oak tree that had likely fallen during a storm. The extraordinary occasion and captivating setting led to the idea of involving the unique talent of Luca Gnizio, an artist capable of grasping the essence of the material and transforming the trunk into something new and rare.

The old holm oak was found by the gardeners who called the artist to transform the trunk into something new
Photo credit: Alessio Guarino

The seating facing Florence embraces the user like a throne
Photo credit: Alessio Guarino

Gnizio is an eco-social artist who faithfully adheres to the "three Rs" - reduce, reuse, and recycle. Thanks to his inspiration and determination, he manages to create new levels of beauty, content, and meaning out of what would normally be considered waste. Using powerful creative gestures, the artist invites us into the tree where the sap once flowed to touch the wood, to smell its fragrance, and to feel the energy of the holm oak.

The uses of Forsoultree
Photo credit: Luca Gnizio

Forsoultree waits to be discovered
Photo credit: Alessio Guarino

The third seat of the 7 metres long trunk looks towards the hill
Photo credit: Alessio Guarino

There, you can lie down and contemplate the view overlooking Florence, or the rocky wall of the old quarry inside Leonardo's wood from two seats, one facing the valley and the other uphill. A deep basin carved into the trunk provides ample seating and an opportunity to connect with nature from the heart of the tree.

Forsoultree, an artwork with a view
Photo credit: Alessio Guarino

The seating in the middle presents itself as a wooden cradle where to relax
Photo credit: Alessio Guarino

Evening atmosphere in the park
Photo credit: Alessio Guarino

About Luca Gnizio

Luca Gnizio, born in 1981 in Lodi, created a new field of professional expertise in 2009: the ECOSOCIAL artist, a pioneering approach that is now internationally recognized. Thanks to his artistic and technical training as an industrial designer, and his commitment to safeguarding the environment, Gnizio's works made with recycled industrial waste materials have given rise to an innovative artistic trend that embodies ecological and social purposes. Taking the principle of the "three Rs" - Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle - to a new level, Gnizio's innovative approach is not confined to an in-depth study of the individual company concerned. By underlining the importance of the wider community, he has successfully grouped and involved local and multinational companies together with community associations to bring about ecological circular economy projects, and hence his ECOSOCIALLY neologism.

Ecosocial artist Luca Gnizio with his collection Forpandemicdesign where nature breaks the asphalt
Photo credit: Roberto Dassoni

About Frontera Gardens

Founded in Florence in the 1980s, Frontera has expanded thanks to the continuous pursuit of excellence, which has placed the company at the forefront of landscape and garden design. Botanical and architectural expertise, research, and innovation distinguish the services offered to clients from the hospitality sector, as well as parks, private villas, and historic homes. Frontera has also left its mark in the garden settings of many luxury hotels.