OURA ARK 2.0 turns a miniature forest into movable furniture
An independent L-shaped lighting arm, drip irrigation and subscription care support indoor planting. A wood-grain recycled-plastic body holds the infrastructure behind the greenery.
OURA ARK 2.0 combines plant lighting, airflow, a water tank and seating in a movable indoor miniature forest. OURA collaborated with KEV Design Studio director Kevin Chou through a project facilitated by Taichung’s Cultural Affairs Bureau. The original introduction was an advertising feature for the Taichung City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau. Examining its structure and use raises a practical question: once greenery is freed from a fixed ceiling, how can it enter offices, cultural venues and places where people want to pause?
An L-shaped arm frees plant lighting from the ceiling
OURA began with plant-care lighting. Version 1.0 required a track or pendant arrangement attached to the ceiling, creating installation limits in tall or semi-open spaces. Version 2.0 uses an independent L-shaped structure with LED grow lights and a smart-controlled fan integrated into the arm. Light and airflow operate above the planting together. Support, illumination and ventilation become one movable system rather than a lamp added beside a pot.
Plant-care lighting and foliage beneath the L-shaped arm.
Chou adjusted dimensions, proportions and component positions, while processing, cost, power requirements and parts availability also influenced development. Lamp housings and fans could not simply be reduced to any desired size; the final form balances those production conditions. Concealing equipment within the arm gives foliage visual priority and preserves the brand’s restrained lines, making the redesign more substantial than a new exterior shell.
Water and electrical systems sit inside a wood-grain body
The lower body uses 100% recycled plastic with a wood-grain surface and a planting medium made from processed reclaimed wood shavings. Sensors, drip irrigation, a tank and electrical controls are integrated within it. Lockable castors and a dismantlable structure support relocation, while concealed storage and a small surface accommodate storage and seating. The grain does not mean solid wood, and the seating has a functional role in bringing people toward the plants.
Detail of the wood-grain surface beside lower planting.
With a ten-litre tank and precise drip irrigation, the team sets a target of more than a month between refills; actual performance depends on plants and environmental conditions. Routine inspections and care are handled by a service team, so the system is not permanently maintenance-free. For an office, responsibilities and intervals for refilling, pruning and equipment checks matter more than assuming sensors remove every care requirement.
Native planting and subscriptions make greenery an ongoing service
This project draws on Taichung’s mountain towns and includes native Taiwanese trees and ferns, including Leptochilus longissimus. The planting encourages recognition of species rather than using green simply to fill space. The brand also develops native-plant and indoor-cultivation initiatives, making light and airflow support conditions for the plants. Looking at how foliage, trees and ferns coexist at different heights helps explain the equipment’s arrangement.
OURA ARK takes a subscription approach, offering businesses greenery and care as a service. An ecological ESG QR code on the side provides project information; scanning it does not itself complete corporate disclosure or confer certification. Organisations still need records appropriate to their own scope. Prices and service details require a site-specific enquiry, with no single public package stated in the available material. Mobility, suitable planting and clear maintenance responsibilities are the practical features to compare.
