Jardins de Métis 2014 Garden Design Proposal
This design is inspired by the elegant
layouts of circuit boards, and
imagines the garden as a digital
machine connected to the natural
forest landscape beyond. The garden
is arranged on a formal grid of metal
studs and loops, defining the location
of new trees and creating an
interesting contrast with the natural
landscape. This grid could be
imagined as a series of different
environmental sensors monitoring
water levels, soil and air quality. The
grid is overlaid with a network of
metal strips radiating from a water
storage component. These lines lead
visitors through the garden and
visualise an irrigation system, which
could be real or imagined depending
on budget. Hopefully the garden
would be a fun place for children to
run around following the lines. The
Layout Plan
Dicentra Formosa ‘Aurora’,
Hakonechloa macra, Luzula nivea,
Polystichum setiferum, Tiarella
cordifolia, and Woodland edge
wildflower meadow mix.
strips also fold upwards to form a seat
in the shade. The garden encourages
visitors to think of trees and plants as
critical components in an
environmental machine; fixing carbon,
generating oxygen, cleaning the air,
and improving the microclimate. It also
explores ideas of gardens in the future
connected to the internet to monitor
performance and to balance out the
environmental impact of buildings.
seat
Water storage
Metal strips
Grid of trees
Gravel surface
0 1 2 3m
scale
Main path
Bamboo grove
Grass path
The grid of trees would be River Birch
or similar (Betula nigra). A shade
tolerant bamboo groove forms a
formal edge to one side of the garden
(Pseudosasa japonica). The
groundcover planting would adapt to a
particular site by using typical species
in the surroundings to integrate the
design. Additional typical species
might include the following: Alchemilla
mollis, Asplenium scolopendrium,
Concept Typical Plant List
Surrounding forest
Surrounding forest
Surrounding forest
Jardins de Métis 2014 Garden Design Proposal
Typical views of the garden design
proposal:
View 1 (left): Birdseye View
View 2 (bottom left): View from the
front of the garden looking inwards.
View 3 (bottom right): View from the
back of the garden looking towards
the front.
