Themes

The inspiration for ‘A Family’s Journey’ came from the wonderful work that lots of charities do throughout the UK to support young people and their families through separation.

There are 3 things that this garden captures:

1 ) Journey/compromise:

• The journey that a family goes on when navigating and coming to terms with a separation. The painful truth of the separation is that things split and therefore the garden is split into two halves with two different entrances.
• Navigating this split is a journey - sometimes you’ll go forwards and can see where you’re heading. Other times you’ll feel like you’re going back on yourself, which is represented by the maze-like layout of the garden.
• Ultimately, the only outcome is compromise - a meeting place between both sides. This is reflected in the ‘oasis’ that lives in the centre ground (a safe space in the middle of the design) where families can come together to find a working solution for everyone.

2 ) Emotions

• Emotions flare upon a separation. At first, they burn bright. They are intense, passionate, uncomfortable and raw emotions. Overtime, these feelings cool. On the edges, the planting is bold and spikey, full of sparks of colour to reflect the intensity of emotion. As you travel to the centre of the garden, the colours and shapes begin to soften. In the centre, the colour palette is a mixture of blues, purples, whites and greens which gives a feeling of calm and relaxation and symbolises peace.

3 ) Talking

• At all points on this journey, the source of healing and greater understanding is achieved through talking:
• Benches are placed at certain points throughout the journey. These are private spaces for families to talk, and listen. They are not intended as the final destination, yet are important places to pause on-route to the centre.
• Raised ponds/water rills are located behind/next to each conversation area and provide a still body of water that reflects both the sky and the planting around it. This accentuates the sometimes disorientating nature of a maze (and the navigation of a ‘broken’ family unit), yet also offers a calm, soothing space for reflection and healing.

Tech Drawing

Hand Drawing

Mood board

Main trees and shrubs