A Modern Structured Garden 2002 - Silver Medal

Inspiration for the garden stems from two main sources; traditional architecture and abstract art. The house façade echoes the houses of the Spanish Balearic and Canary Islands but painted a rich, dark colour to harmonise with the purple, blue and silver planting.

The overall space is divided up into geometric shapes and blocks of colour inspired by the cubists. Created to support the work of the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Society the garden has a strong sense of structure. Space is divided up into squares and rectangles to produce a sense of shape and bold lines. Natural materials such as new railway sleepers are combined with modern materials like the glass door canopy and the alloy windows. This combination reflects Nicholas's continued interest in mixing the old with the new. A metallic theme runs across the garden, from the galvanised wire of the fence and the kick rail on the far decking to the galvanised waterspout, bench legs, planters and canopy fixtures.
The house façade creates a sense of place. A galvanised waterspout feeds a rectangular tongue of water that juts out of the building. The raised planters, filled with plants in a colour scheme repeated across the garden, accentuate the planting and add height to the garden. The two decked areas are designed for alfresco dining whilst the raised planters provide privacy make the lawn a perfect place for relaxation.