You are The Future (Macmillan - Tatton 2023)
Project not selected - RHS Competition
1. The Site When I received the by mail the brief to make a garden for cancer support, it was a chance for me to improve my knowledge. Building a garden of 50sqm for a RHS Show In UK is really exiting. This is a really important cause. Macmillan foundation is a real chance for so many people looking for a human presence during after the cancer diagnostic. https://macmillan.org.uk
I was immediately interested in water management on this site, also the marquee because of the size of the garden. The marquee is situated outside of the 50sqm. Behind the 3 mirrors.
2. The Concept The concept starts with a garden made in Shanghai named Pocket Park. I choose to build the garden with 3 mirrors, which could be seen from the sitting and conversation area. The form of borders in also interesting. The idea is to enter in the garden, walk under ginkgo biloba of 4 meters canopy, reach the pools made in natural stone (Sylvia Crowe design) and turn back on your left. Then you are under a 3 meters canopy Ginkgo Biloba, as an invitation to talk, and sit on stone bench. The garden will be accessible for occasional wheelchair. Once sited you are between the noise of the water flow and the 3 mirrors evocating future and that you are the future of Macmillan.
3. The Design The desire to create space of conversation sheltered from rain and sunshine, sustainable & re-used for different gardens, give me a target in this project. The tree is the best element for this. In Africa trees are here for shade and rain. The choice of the Ginkgo biloba was like evidence. In term of design, the painting of Heinrich Vogeler (1872-1942) “Dreams II” will be the source, in term of color & shape.
The Scheme
4. The Masterplan is articulated with :
Access for invited guests,
Marquee outside,
4 seating places,
conversation under the gingko 3 m canopy,
gingko the protect from sun, and rain,
pools.
The pathway (1200mm minimum width) for the wheelchair. When you are invited in the garden, you can have a seat on the first stone bench on your left, under the gingko biloba. This tree evocate resistance, and durability. The Ginkgo leaf is the symbol of the Urasenke school of Japanese tea ceremony. The tree is the official tree of the Japanese capital of Tokyo.
Composed of plants resisting in dry climate, this garden will be low in water consumption.
For this garden, stones will be the only material used, black gravel or maybe slate. The material will be chosen to be appropriate for wheelchair, compact and sustainable.
Beds will be on 3 levels, 3 beds area, left, center and right. 3 levels, 3 colors. Inspired by a private garden in Perpignan France, each bed will be borders by Slice of stone. As describe on the perspective sketch in 3D.
Mirrors will be sources in second hand, or with a aspect of “miroir vieilli” of 4mm.
The base of the mirror will be inspired by the Camden Arts Centre I 2004, Finchley Road, Tony Fretton Architects. This successful contemporary visual arts center in North London was given a much-needed makeover and endowed with a new café and bookshop. A public concourse was created on the ground floor to connect the neighborhood to the café and garden to make the bookshop visible from the street, while a new fence along Finchley Road reduces the noise of traffic in the garden. These new elements have served to revive the cultural building within its contemporary context and offer a more social dimension to its overall design.
Book “architecture & design” LONDON daab
The choice of plants native from Portugal is in eco logic. Water must be considered as rare by choosing Mediterranean plants. The planting plan has been made with a mix of: Phlomis purpurea, Cistus albidus, Calluna vulgaris, Helichrysum picardi, Salvia chamaedryoides, Thymus mastic., Hypericum balearicum, Nepeda tuberiosa. For more info . https://sigmetum.com
Conclusion
“The garden is a question of balance and continuity, between shapes, and textures, vegetal and mineral”
Timothy Vaughan (extract from the book “Secrets de paysagistes” - Alain le Toquin ISN 9782732453255).
Elodie Pradon Garden Design
