The Daily Telegraph Garden 2015 - GardensDB Browse [ ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** ](https://gardensdb.com) [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) [ Search gardens, designers, shows… ](https://gardensdb.com/search) [ Login ](https://gardensdb.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgardensdb.com%2Fgardens%2Fthe-daily-telegraph-garden-2015) [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) [ ](https://gardensdb.com/search) Discover - [ Home ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charity & non-profits ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) Account - [ Login ](https://gardensdb.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fgardensdb.com%2Fgardens%2Fthe-daily-telegraph-garden-2015) - [ Register ](https://gardensdb.com/register) Discover - [ Home Today's highlights ](https://gardensdb.com) - [ Gardens Show gardens, catalogued ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) - [ Shows Horticultural shows ](https://gardensdb.com/shows) - [ Events Festivals, courses & open days ](https://gardensdb.com/events) - [ 360° tours Step inside, long after the show packs up ](https://gardensdb.com/360-tours) - [ Trails Curated routes through the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/trails) People & studios - [ People Designers, judges, growers ](https://gardensdb.com/people) - [ Studios Design practices ](https://gardensdb.com/studios) - [ Books Recommended reading ](https://gardensdb.com/books) - [ Jobs Roles in the industry ](https://gardensdb.com/jobs) Organisations - [ Sponsors Organisations that back the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/sponsors) - [ Charity & non-profits Causes behind the gardens ](https://gardensdb.com/charities) - [ Collectives Groups & community projects ](https://gardensdb.com/collectives) - [ Companies Suppliers & contractors ](https://gardensdb.com/companies) - [ Education Schools, colleges & universities ](https://gardensdb.com/education-institutions) - [ Nurseries Plant suppliers & growers ](https://gardensdb.com/nurseries) [ Submit a garden ](https://gardensdb.com/gardens/submit) [ About GardensDB ](https://gardensdb.com/help) ![A modern show garden features tall white Eremurus spires, a dark slate water rill, geometric white walls, and vibrant yellow and blue flowers.](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/c347f181-7795-4f51-9161-1220a27a644c/img-0078.jpg) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-chelsea-flower-show-2015) Show Garden ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-gold-medal/icon.webp) Gold Medal The Daily Telegraph Garden 2015 ================================= Designed by Marcus Barnett At a glance Show RHS Chelsea Flower Show Year 2015 Category Show Garden Large Show Garden About this garden The story ----------- Designed by Marcus Barnett for The Daily Telegraph, this garden was awarded a Gold Medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015. The design was inspired by the landscape of Marcus's childhood in Essex and by the De Stijl art movement, particularly the work of Dutch abstract artist Piet Mondrian. It explored the process of simplifying a natural landscape into its essential linear forms, blocks of colour and geometric relationships. Fields, woods, hedges, roads and waterways were reinterpreted as rectilinear planting beds, clipped topiary, linear paving and narrow water channels. A small rill running through the garden represented the River Colne, while the overall composition recalled an aerial view of the countryside. The garden was conceived as an urban space that could be appreciated both from within and from above. Viewed from an upper window, its blocks of blue, red, yellow, white and green planting suggested blue flax, yellow oilseed rape, red poppies, white hawthorn blossom and the green trees and hedgerows of the rural landscape. Differently sized planting blocks introduced colour and textural relief within the garden's strong geometric framework. Each single-colour bed was crisply edged in steel and contained between six and nine plant varieties. Subtle variations in tone, height, foliage and flower shape created interest within each block, while repeated plants were used in different combinations elsewhere in the garden. Two freestanding walls punctuated the boundary hedges and provided a restrained architectural backdrop for the planting. One wall was surfaced with textured concrete panels, over which water gently trickled before continuing through the garden. The walls, hedges and trees formed the principal vertical elements, introducing enclosure, sculptural form and dappled shade. Clipped hornbeam and yew hedges provided structure, while Osmanthus × burkwoodii trees rose above the planting. The trees were sourced in Belgium and helped connect the strong horizontal geometry of the paths and waterways with the garden's vertical structure. The planting palette reflected the primary colours associated with De Stijl. Vivid reds, blues and yellows were arranged in distinct rectilinear blocks and balanced by quieter areas of green, white and silver. The disciplined use of colour deliberately departed from the naturalistic drift planting prevalent at Chelsea at the time. Modern outdoor seating by Spanish furniture company Kettal created a place from which to experience the composition. Water, planting, walls, paths and clipped hedges were brought together as a highly controlled but harmonious interpretation of the countryside. Award Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-gold-medal/icon.webp) Gold Medal RHS The people behind it Designer ---------- - [ MB Marcus Barnett Designer Marcus Barnett Studio ](https://gardensdb.com/people/marcus-barnett) Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/c347f181-7795-4f51-9161-1220a27a644c/conversions/img-0078-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/277ffb6d-c057-4b4e-bd60-e1efb2a6de97/conversions/img-0238-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/58aa6505-74f5-4637-adaf-cc9cfda416cf/conversions/img-0224-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/78412483-dfc1-46ad-ac28-362fe5986c47/conversions/img-0303-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/6727e9d2-b6ba-4344-a0c3-97051cd37a4c/conversions/img-0508-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/ca35729f-0320-433d-9c8c-9842a4eb5806/conversions/img-0677-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/7ae3f2ef-34be-4e01-98e8-bf2ded34da4c/conversions/img-0741-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/d30f1e35-9afd-45ef-9e8a-d536b78fcf62/conversions/img-0764-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/037ea899-36f9-4d82-9ff4-645e1096dba4/conversions/img-0768-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/5af12443-8350-48c0-8a17-c49635c68955/conversions/img-9690-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/ba58c514-75d0-4606-a402-c344c2ed22ef/conversions/img-9531-gallery.webp) ![]() / Hero image Set as hero Photo: Brought to life by Organisations --------------- ### Design Studio 1 - [ ![Marcus Barnett Studio](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/studios/marcus-barnett-studio/logo.webp?v=b3913100-0991-4c0e-97e7-ac36a7f6bb82) Marcus Barnett Studio ](https://gardensdb.com/studios/marcus-barnett-studio) ![](/images/leaf_icon.svg) Gardens**DB** The world's largest collection of show gardens online, kept free, kept current, and shaped by the community that uses it. 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