One Garden Brighton Entrance
East Sussex
COMMERCIAL PROJECT
In 2021, after a substantial restoration project, One Garden Brighton was opened to the public. Formerly Council run, to grow planting for the local Brighton and Hove areas, now a free public walled garden to explore: with several smaller gardens within; a market; restaurant; events and a Plumpton College campus, with course studios on its periphery. It is here that I have trained in Garden Design during which we were tasked to produce a concept design for the entrance to it.
THE BRIEF
Design engaging elements to the entrance of the gardens, that wow’s and entices the public into the wider garden spaces, considering place, history and the present. The design should be inclusive and accessible for all ages and abilities, including our four legged furry friends. It should consider: emergency vehicle access, updated and more user friendly signage, make sure that ‘Listed’ parts of the wall are left untouched, and harmonise the planting beyond the design area to give seamless continuity.
THE DESIGN
Before you enter the garden, you are greeted by a vertical planted ‘Welcome’ sign matching the logo. Just through the gates is an information hub, designed to be easily removed for seasonal displays and emergency access.
As you enter the gates you are enveloped by a large structure with a repeating, radiating pattern. It has a central water collecting chamber that feeds pipework made from black waste downpipes, these echo the colour of the surrounding buildings, whilst capturing rainwater that drains into bladders under the seating.
The structure sprawls out, leading the eye into other parts of the garden, and branches down creating a forest-like environment. A limestone pathway leads you through the forest, with evergreen climbers that ascend and will eventually cover it.
Soda bottles are repurposed as planters along the pathway in umble-like clusters, intermingled amongst the planting. Cotinus coggygria and Sanguisorba officinalis, are key plants that, again, echo the dark colouring of the buildings and feed out into the walled garden to harmonise the space.
Water veils situated at the back of the forest immerse you further, with blurred reflection and trickling water, they make the space feel tranquil and considerably larger.