The fascinating and multi-faceted life of photographer Lee Miller was the inspiration for this design which was intended to promote greater creativity in education centre visitors, by offering a sense of theatre and a shift of mindset. The overarching narrative concept for the design was Fragmentation, comprising five different character areas:

The Shutter, inspired by Lee’s experience as a war-time photo-journalist, is dark, brooding and secretive, with towering plants to instil feelings of immersion and claustrophobia. Solarisation, inspired by Lee’s experimental photography with Man Ray, has a sense of over-exposure and is intended to be uncomfortably bright, using plants with silvery or grey-green foliage to reflect the light. The Picnic, inspired by Lee’s success as an award-winning cook and entertainer, is a colourful, naturalistic meadow-inspired planting to reflect Lee’s lack of formality and vibrancy.  Green Sorbet is a visual ‘palette-cleanser’ to mark the transition between the darkness of The Shutter and the brightness of Solarisation. Gauze is a light and airy veil of ornamental grasses at the threshold between Solarisation and The Picnic.

The design showcases the adaptability of plants to create specific atmospheres and effects.

3D visualisations by Sketchup for Garden Design

THE SHUTTER