09. Osmose
Sustainability is the keyword for this garden. It showcases an automatic regulation system for collecting, storing and transporting water using natural irrigation. The flow of water means that the garden requires minimal maintenance and is always a beautiful sight to see. The species selected are drought-resistant and are also able to resist the climate change we are experiencing today. In this decorative clearing, there are green low-growing plants with tall trees dotted around them and shades of deep blue and purple here and there. The plants have been carefully selected for their ability to adapt to their environment and to enhance local biodiversity. Many of them will still be useful for gardens in the years to come. Steel containers collect water and store it before it is redistributed. These containers are displayed in original shapes and different sizes, producing a resolutely modern style. Water flows around the garden through an underground rope system, just like roots. On the wettest days, the water is not circulated. But when the soil and the ropes dry, the water is absorbed and then spread around the garden, creating an automatic irrigation system that adapts to weather conditions and to each section of the garden, only providing water to the areas that need it.
DESIGNERS
Liz Lake Associates was founded in 1985 and has steadily grown to 3 offices in Stansted, Bristol and Nottingham. We are landscape architects, urban designers and landscape planners and are proud to still work for companies that came to us in the 1980s. With the growing interest in our environment, the need for high-quality and well-planned outdoor space has never been greater. From public parks to private gardens, and from urban extensions to town squares, elegant, inspiring and safe places provide a positive and lasting benefit to our quality of life and well-being. Our approach to projects is holistic, no matter how large or small. From the outset, we start with a fresh vision, take a broad view to assess the context, find local inspiration, devise a strategic and sustainable approach, and propose creative solutions.
Sean Vessey is a Chartered Landscape Architect passionate about creative design and brings a thorough technical and practical knowledge to his work in both hard and soft landscapes. He has facilitated the successful implementation of many commercial schemes across the UK and abroad during his varied career including Australia where he worked on the Olympic Village. Sean has won a number of awards including a BALI Principal Award for soft landscaping, a gold award for the Best Restored Landscape in the UK and a Gold Award for Best Communal Garden.
Tin-Tin Azure-Marxen has been working with Liz Lake Associates for a number of years now after previously spending several years working in China and India on large residential, commercial and industrial developments as well as various small scale projects. He has been involved in various design competitions from around the world being awarded a gold in the Chinese Garden Expo, 1st Place in Ealing Councils park regeneration competition and notable mentions on many others. He has been heavily involved with the Landscape Institute, The European Landscape Architecture Student Association and the International Federation of Landscape Architects and has represented England at meetings in Edinburgh, Rome and London.
Ruizhi Feng has previously worked in a large international multidisciplinary practice working closely with other disciplines to deliver large scale projects in China and is now focusing on building experiences as a Landscape Architect in the UK. He has a strong interest in place making and is working on various types of landscape projects in London and Cambridge including public realm, commercial, residential, college campus, etc. He is passionate about bringing nature, art and landscape together in a creative and inspiring way.
