City Living wins GOLD and “Best Fresh Garden” at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Kate Gould Gardens is absolutely delighted to announce that its 2017 Fresh Garden ‘City Living’ won not only a gold medal but also best in category at the RHS Chelsea Flower show this week.
Speaking from the showground on medals day Kate said “City Living is the most ambitious garden I have ever designed for Chelsea. Without the skill, determination and sheer hard work of the most amazing team we would never have made it. There were moments when I thought we wouldn't but I shouldn't have doubted the guys. They are epic and have realised my creation on paper into the most wondrous of creations of which I am so, so proud. Every time I look at the garden I have to pinch myself that it is actually there and looks if anything far better than it did in my head. Hats off and huge thanks to everyone involved.”
Garden Description City Living is a contemporary garden on several levels imagined in a typical urban apartment block. While these dwellings are often cold and slightly forbidding in appearance they could easily be transformed with the addition of attractive green outdoor spaces for residents use with comfortable and sheltered seating areas surrounded by appealing planting and tranquil water features. This garden could be added to existing buildings or easily inserted into new builds to effectively ‘green up’ city spaces and provide valuable habitat for wildlife and birds.
The garden is set on three levels with a mezzanine floor and is positioned directly adjacent to the dwellings making use of the space beneath and alongside the building, providing an interesting and ‘green’ route to and from the resident’s homes. A stairwell clad with back lit terrazzo (see editors notes for interesting story on this) featuring cantilevered steps and a perforated metal screen provide stability to the structure whilst allowing light to filter down to the lower levels. This ensures each level can be effectively gardened and utilised for recreation. Green walls and a water feature are incorporated into the scheme to add a sense of tranquillity and movement.
The hard landscaping will include sustainably sourced bamboo decking from Loknan , glazed Sawtooth bricks from Ibstock, luxury decorative tiles and the specialist handmade back lit terrazzo which will be particularly eye catching when the garden is lit in the evenings. Two Anglepoise® giant outdoor lamps will light up the garden at sunset while solid teak stools by Mark Gabbertas serve as stylish seating on the mezzanine.
The idea of greening up city spaces is one that is close to Kate’s heart. She has explored this theme twice before at the RHS Chelsea Flower shows in 2009 and 2013 receiving highly coveted Gold medals on both occasions as well as a ‘Best in Category’ for her 2009 ECO Chic Garden. Her 2013 Show Garden ‘The Wasteland’ transformed an abandoned industrial site into a public garden, reusing the old structures and waste materials found within. This garden resonated with the public and RHS judges alike who awarded it a Gold Medal. Please visit www.kategouldgardens.com for images of Kate’s previous RHS Chelsea Gardens.
