RHS CHELSEA 2025 : PROCESS
NAME : The Hospitalfield Arts Garden DATE : 2025 LOCATION : RHS Chelsea PARTNERS : Prof Nigel Dunnett Lead designer @nigeldunnett Construction by @landformuk, Charity partner @hospitalfield, Design coordination and detailing: @thelandscapeagency, Plants @hortus_loci, Bothy @bothystores, - funded by @project.giving.back.
AIM
Our role has been to look at ways to convey, as an overarching sculptural form, the dynamism of a dune landscape, and the power the wind plays in constantly shaping the sand.
CONCEPT
Our vision for the garden is that it should accommodate a space for a creative practitioner, presenting two themes: the theme of the landscape and the theme of human creativity. At the heart of both we saw a dialogue of opposites that could be developed and expressed to quite dramatic effect.
PROCESS
To build a Chelsea garden that could successfully express something of this natural drama, is quite a challenge, and we considered using many different ways and materials. But our starting point was to create the shape of the garden, and a setting that would allow a sense of enclosure and movement, this we achieved by making a model in sand.
Landform scanned by Print City at MMU
The 3D scanning by @printcity at Manchester Metropolitan University gave us a digital structure that we were then able to manipulate and slices. The space between the slices also needed to work for the sand infill and very importantly the planting design. After many iterations we settled on 20mm Medite board with a 400mm gap infilled with silica sand kindly donated by Bathgate Quarry in Cheshire.
After much testing, and conversations - the method was developed to create the shape of the dunes using a fixed framework of wooden fins or ribs - made from @meditesmartply - a very durable external material. These fins are perhaps reminiscent of the skeleton of an ancient sea creature being exposed amongst the sand, or the hull of a long-wrecked ship.
INSTALLATION
The garden structure was constructed by @Landform, with our Peter Davidson assisting daily, before returning to the studio to work on the Waney Dune Seats. Once constructed, the planting team started to work their magic.
WANEY DUNE SEATS
As we were shaping the scale models in sand at the very beginning of the design process we all imagined where we’d love to sit, and where we’d enjoy spending time in the landscape with others.
Two different areas were identified, firstly a more communal social space outside the artist studio, and then a more solitary reflective space sheltered by the dunes connecting visually to a body of water.
The design of the seats mirrors the sculptural quality of the dune-scape, but shaped using slices of waney timber from @englishwoodlandstimber in beautiful West Sussex.
We decided to use Cedar of Lebanon, and after selecting the impressive waney boards, we shaped the seats by hand in our own studio. The form reflecting the sculptural sand dunes within the Hospitalfields RHS Chelsea Garden.
WITHIN THE GARDEN
The textures and form of the timber Waney Dune seats compliment the stunning planting - and offer opportunities of complementation within the space.
Nigel Dunnett Lead designer @nigeldunnett
The garden is funded by @project.giving.back
Super-human construction by @landformuk
Sculptors: @broadbentstudio
Charity partner @hospitalfield
Design coordination and detailing: @thelandscapeagency
Plants @hortus_loci
Bothy @bothystores
SILVER GILT MEDAL WINNER