RHS CHELSEA 2025
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
“A garden inspired by the dramatic sand dune landscapes at Arbroath, where partner Hospitalfield Arts is based. A highly sculptural and immersive garden demonstrating the use of sand and other mineral substrates as a growing medium for climate-adapted planting, and the great benefits in creating a garden topography to maximise different ecological niches in the smallest of spaces.”
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.
WANEY DUNE SEATS
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 shaped the seats by hand in our own studio. The textures and form of the timber Waney Dune seats compliment the stunning planting - and offer opportunities of complementation within the space.
SILVER GILT MEDAL WINNER
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