The Folio Society's Reading Room Garden - 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-folio-societys-reading-room-garden) [ 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-folio-societys-reading-room-garden) - [ 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) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/gardens/the-folio-societys-reading-room-garden/primary_image.webp) [Gardens](https://gardensdb.com/gardens) / [ RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023 ](https://gardensdb.com/shows/rhs-chelsea-flower-show-2023) Balcony Garden ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-silver-gilt-medal/icon.webp) Silver Gilt Medal The Folio Society's Reading Room Garden ========================================= Designed by Katherine Holland At a glance Show RHS Chelsea Flower Show Year 2023 Category Balcony Garden Small Show Garden Photo: Royal Horticultural Society About this garden The story ----------- The Folio Society’s Reading Room Garden is a green sanctuary designed for relaxing in the company of a good book. The garden embraces the transportive effect that books can have. The space immediately outside the balcony doors is surrounded with plants creating a green oasis – a bubbling water feature creates white noise, zoning out the sounds of the city beyond. Around the corner, the space opens out to oak seating for enjoying the view or socialising. The back wall is decorated with hand-crafted oak cobbles (the galls found on oak trees were used in ink production up until the 20th century). Designed to be lit from behind, casting interesting shadows at dusk and night-time, this wall also features a cut-out, reminiscent of bookends. Encouraging a sense of calm away from technology, this space celebrates the importance of reading - for fun and as a way to improve mental wellbeing. The design could be adjusted for different households – whether a family with young children learning to read, teenagers studying for exams, busy professionals seeking solitude after a stressful day at work or retirees engrossed in a new novel. Award Recognition ------------- - ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/awards/rhs-silver-gilt-medal/icon.webp) Silver Gilt Medal RHS The people behind it Designer ---------- - [ ![Katherine Holland](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/people/katherine-holland/profile_photo.jpg) Katherine Holland Designer Katherine Holland Garden Design ](https://gardensdb.com/people/katherine-holland) Photography Gallery --------- ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/b645f0fa-f897-4dd4-9381-493767ddea98/conversions/image_1-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/eef30ecd-4458-484d-8032-a7f1a3063e8f/conversions/image_2-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/1784107c-3744-4ba6-b836-c551acfbc75a/conversions/image_3-gallery.webp) ![](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/media/0fbcb08c-acc2-4c70-8002-5aada18a96ec/conversions/image_4-gallery.webp) ![]() / Photo: Brought to life by Organisations --------------- ### Design Studio 1 - [ ![Katherine Holland Garden Design](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/studios/katherine-holland-garden-design/logo.png) Katherine Holland Garden Design ](https://gardensdb.com/studios/katherine-holland-garden-design) ### Landscaper 1 - [ ![Phil Sutton Landscapes](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/phil-sutton-landscapes/logo.webp) Phil Sutton Landscapes ](https://gardensdb.com/companies/phil-sutton-landscapes) ### Supplier 1 - [ ![London Stone](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/london-stone/logo.webp) London Stone ](https://gardensdb.com/companies/london-stone) ### Sponsor 1 - [ ![The Folio Society](https://cdn.gardensdb.com/companies/the-folio-society/logo.webp) The Folio Society ](https://gardensdb.com/companies/the-folio-society) ![](/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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