Avant-Gardens Festival 2010 Winners
The Challenge:
Design a garden 4m x 4m. 25% of the space must be plants; it must contain a seat; it must be practical enough to last for at least six months; and it must be your interpretation of this year's theme - ‘Treasure’...
This was the brief for this year's annual Avant-Gardens design competition, and the prize for the six lucky winners was to have their designs built here at New Hopetoun Gardens, to be admired by over 100,000 Summer visitors.
Now you can come and see them for yourself, and during July you can vote for your favourite Avant-Garden in our People’s Choice Vote.
Designing such a small space is much harder than you would think – have a go yourself next time!
‘One Earth’ - John Frater
Our greatest treasure is this delicately balanced home of ours that floats precariously in space. We need, now perhaps more than ever, to treat it as something precious rather than something to be exploited. This is a place to contemplate this preciousness. The grass family is found on every continent and provides our main staple foods.
‘All that Glisters is not Gold’ - Miles Nelson
The purpose of this garden is to suggest that treasure is not about material wealth and gold, but more about the everyday things we take for granted. The mirrored chest shows that it is what lies outside the chest, reflected in the mirrors, that represents real treasure. This is emphasised in the words written on the plaques.
‘ Sunken Treasure’ - Maxine Cadzow
This ‘sunken’ garden’s treasure is a space for peace and tranquility, a hidden sanctuary. This is a modern contemporary garden, with clean lines and quality paving focused on a naturalistic planting scheme. Sitting on the seat, it is possible to hide away behind the transparent planting and relax, watching the plants sway in the breeze.
‘Diamondscape’ - Karen McCullough
‘Treasure’ conjures up images of pirates, treasure maps, hidden bounty including diamonds. Diamonds have the notoriety of being ‘a girl's best friend’ and as a single girl, not yet in possession of her own diamond, Karen thought it fitting to create her own diamondscape. The central oasis is enclosed by planting in a contemporary parterre.
‘Everyone’s Treasure’ - Inglis Thorburn
Inspiration for the garden came from the Scottish Plant Collectors who travelled the globe in the 18th and 19th centuries, and brought back numerous ‘treasures’ that we are familiar with and enjoy to this day. The gold frames are the treasure chests and are inspired by the Wardian cases used to transport the plants on ships’ decks.
‘Book’ - Pei-Ying Chou
Pei-Ying’s Avant-Garden is her interpretation of this year’s theme, and to her the most precious treasure is books. A safe, sheltered place to indulge in her treasures without interruption. Is her bold statement perhaps the most avant-garden of the six Avant-Gardens this year?
So congratulations to all six winners. And if your entry didn't make it this time, we hope you will try again next year. Don't forget to take a closer look during your next visit and vote for your favourite design.
Many thanks to our amazing sponsors who helped helped bring these wonderful garden designs to life…
JMK Business Supplies Ltd, Printers and Stationers, Linlithgow -
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The Original Tile Company, 4 Northwest Circus Pl, Edinburgh -0131 225 7356
Forest Craft Fencing and Garden Buildings - 0131 552 8287
Arnold Clark Citreon North Street, Armadale -08448 447184
…and finally, thanks to our loyal supporters;
William Sinclair Horticulture Ltd
Compost and Mulch suppliers
Johnsons of Whixley
Nurserymen
Growforth Limited
Nurserymen
Highland Liliums
Nurserymen
Stoneflair
Paving and Gravel suppliers
