CREATEUR D’ AMBIANCE

Gerhard Glatz: Florist

Warm glowing light; the smell of mulled wine; the silhouette of snow clad pots and the heavenly tones of a Mozart. There’s a concert to stimulate all senses in the world of Gerhard Glatz. The professional florist (and trained gardener) makes a point of creating environments at the festive times of year, putting his work and that of his family (it’s a family florist and gardening business) in public view. The invitation to “Advent in Klosterneuburg”, a yearly event, is eagerly awaited. Who does not love to be transported into another world? Gerhard Glatz approach to his calling is holistic. For him, floral works must be presented in situ with something of appeal to all senses. The effect is measurable, all who come stand and stare.

Christmas decoration for Gerhard Glatz favours the same winter plant material as his colleague Astrid Mayer (they studied together), like Mayer he too draws inspiration from nature around him. “The art of floral decoration” (Glatz) is to take the mistletoe, evergreen needle branches, apples, pine cones, “the cornucopia of nature in winter” and represent it with new accents from another angle. His task is to present traditional ingredients freshly mixed.

Colour is paramount. “It takes first place before form” explains Glatz. Red is Christmas, but variations like this year’s old-fashioned pink, and rich nut brown are very well received. Glatz too, disregards trends, but he admits that impulses coming form the world of architectural and interior design do not go past floral designers unnoticed. The tendency is for “airier” looser creations. Metal objects have seen their day. Silk and felt materials combinations are incoming and so too the use of glass. And the focus of branches in floral work is strong, any tree from elegant magnolia to knobby twigs from fruit trees. And light? Unthinkable to omit, natural candle light in all variations for indoors.

And we? How can we duplicate the interiors? “Don’t try”, says Gerhard Glatz. Focus on one idea, extend and add to it, repeat elements with the house. Focal points can be a generous mass of one selected fruit or flower (the crab apples Malus ‘Red Sentinnel’ are favourites) or just a single beautiful bloom. “Old vases from the cellar filled with twigs or pine cones alone will create a wondrous festive feel” and the creative process is part of the pre-Christmas enjoyment. Advice from an exceptional “creatéur d’ambiance”.

External Links:

www.wko.at - Gerhard Glatz

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