Art&design
Sited by the Tate Britain the new gardens for Chelsea College of Art and Design, designed by Julie Zeldin Landscape and Garden Design, will make a significant and beautiful addition to the site of the former Royal Army Medical College.
Julie Zeldin Landscape and Garden Design have been commissioned to design two garden spaces for the college within the master-plan refurbishment of the external spaces, part of which is designed by Planet Earth, Landscape Architects.
The listed buildings have been recently adapted to contain one of Europe’s most prestigious colleges, and the whole site is to become a new Centre for the Arts in London, with one of the largest outdoor exhibition spaces in Europe, a gallery without walls covering 3,484 square m. The Parade Ground will be open to the public and free of charge, showing cutting edge exhibitions on an international scale.
The new gardens will contribute to the site, providing both public and private spaces for this exciting development.
Designer, Julie Zeldin, was selected for the project after submissions were made from an invited group of Garden Designers.
Working closely with Nigel Webb, director of Generating Gardens, Landscape Contractors, and George Richardson, Freelance Landscape Architect, the designs have evolved to respond to the needs of the college, and the site, and have a geometry in keeping with the existing architecture.
The Triangle Garden-
The Garden is an exciting mixture of dynamic lines and wild planting- a secret, modern, wild garden in central London, by the Thames. British natives and a matrix of lower planting will become its own ecosystem as the plants knit together and form a woodland floor under a Hazel canopy.
A simple grass area, given definition by use of reclaimed oak timber, allows the garden to be used for large events, and also to be a calm space within the bustle of the college, for reflection and solitude. The shape echoes the dynamic lines of the new buildings, but also uses existing historical detail to add depth and texture to the design. Lighting, and simple seating complete the picture, to make a useable and intriguing design, a haven for wildlife, and a space which forms a cohesive picture when seen from the magnificent interior of the buildings which overlook the garden.
Mc Gregor Courtyard
Sited opposite the gardens of the Tate Britain, this courtyard is to contain an important sculpture by Henry Moore. Designed to contain and frame the sculpture, a restrained planting here echoes the simplicity of the Tate gardens, making a link between the college and its environs. Delicate planting, and subtle lighting will create a wonderful view of the sculpture from the street, allowing it to be enjoyed by everyone who visits the area.
The Triangle Garden is to be built in June 2008 and the Mc Gregor Courtyard will follow as the next phase of the project.
Julie Zeldin Landscape and Garden Design
t. 0207 226 0135
m. 07730975692
e. gardens@juliezeldin.com
Nigel Webb
Generating Gardens
Landscape Contractors and Consultants
5 Firdene
Surbiton
Surrey
t. 0208 241 0741
m. 07958 358460