Japanese designer awarded at UK garden show
Kazuyuki Ishihara wanted to create a garden for everyone to show that green and tranquil places can transcend class and wealth. Not only did he succeed in his aim, but the celebrated designer has been awarded a gold medal in the Artisan Gardens category of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show.
Organised by the society, a UK charity established to share the best in gardening, the event that took place on 19–23 May attracted entrants from around the world.
Ishihara received inspiration for his creation from reflecting on the Edo period, a time in Japan when horticulture became accessible to the general population.
Far from his first gong, the award marks his continuing success at the UK’s most prestigious garden show, where he has collected both silver and gold medals in previous years.
This year’s offering, built by Ishihara Design Laboratory and sponsored by Cat’s Co., Ltd., features a traditional-style house, path and water feature. The proximity of the building and the greenery allows for a number of distinct views incorporating each, while the two aspects unite to form a single, cohesive space when looking out onto the garden from inside the house.
