The Cancer Research Garden

Project year: 2010
Posted: 22 Apr, 2015

Awarded

Gold Medal

Details

The garden was designed on behalf of Cancer Research UK and the charity’s chosen concept of ‘Enlighten’ was represented as a ‘journey’ towards calm, order, serenity and rationality at the heart of the space.

Physical concepts of enlightenment were explored through the use of light and shade, shadow and contrast. As the visitor moves along the “journey” the paving changed from dark and rough to light and smooth, while in the planting there was a transition from monochrome to colour.

The garden was surrounded by a slatted timber ‘cloister’ for contemplation, which created vistas and produced ever-changing light and shadow within it.The terrace was covered by a dramatic slatted canopy with a central circular opening, drawing light into a circular reflecting pool below filled with water lilies (a Japanese symbol of enlightenment.