RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2009

The Eco Chic Garden

About This Project

The Eco Chic Garden examined the potential of under-used inner-town spaces – spaces with no obvious water sources or proximity to other greenery, which could nonetheless offer garden-lovers an elegant oasis of tranquillity.

 

The garden design also had a pronounced eco edge and could easily be built using the discarded surplus elements left behind by builders and contractors – from scaffold boards and paving to ballast and planks. The garden was set in a 7m x 5m space – typical of a real-life space between new or existing apartment buildings. Such a location might be initially unpromising and difficult to plant – dank, dull and probably largely overshadowed in daylight hours.

 

Transformation was achieved by using dramatic green walls, permeable materials and shade-tolerant planting. In a real-life application, the garden would be self-sufficient in terms of water supply, with grey water from the surrounding buildings re-used for irrigation.

 

Medal: Gold 

Category: Urban Gardens