Three years ago, inspired by the events surrounding the COVID‑19 pandemic, I designed the #StayHome Garden. Due to the unusual conditions of self‑isolation, I tried to envision how the concept of a grow‑your‑own kit might be scaled up to the size and complexity of a garden, with the added element of being customisable via E‑DESIGN.
This concept relies on two design elements...
• an adaptable layout and
• a simple palette of plants and materials.
My biomimetic design style already lends itself to this purpose.
The Simplicity Garden, a reimagining of my original #StayHome Garden design, is not a template, but is a demonstration of how I would apply these elements to a bespoke project.
Each of us has a unique connection with nature that is influenced by what inspires us. My bespoke e‑Design will bring those sources of inspiration to life as a cohesive garden concept that you can use to transform your space into your favourite place to be.
I have based this sample design on a fusion of Japanese and Bauhaus design tenets, to bring my own vision of serenity to life. These contrasting styles both grew from philosophies inspired by nature. From the Japanese style, I have taken inspiration for this simple, harmonious nature‑inspired colour palette of timber, stone‑grey and green.
The layout of the garden is inspired by a Bauhaus‑style geometry that is bold, but can be adapted to fit an irregular space and compensate for inexact measurements. This design can also be tailored to suit different self‑build skills and resources. For instance, I have shown the space encircled by vertical railway sleepers as a simple low‑growing wildflower lawn, but it could also be transformed into a more complex biodiverse pond and wetland habitat.
I have used a simple palette of materials to create the geometry of the design, and a simple palette of plants to inhabit it with life. Timber structures rise from a stone‑grey landscape, surrounded by dense beds of mostly evergreen, undemanding native and pollinator‑friendly greenery.
The design is punctuated by biomorphic features, such as the pebble‑inspired creations of Darren Rumley and a bespoke sculpture, inspired by the unfurling fronds of a fern, which I designed in consultation with sculptor Simon Probyn, to be made from steel wrapped around bundles of bamboo poles to form a microhabitat for wildlife.