In collaboration with Ella Clarke

Each of us has a unique experience of the sensory world - our earliest memories are laid down in scent and the smallest whiff can instantly transport us back to a past time. In the brain, scent molecules are captured by the olfactory bulb which directly connects to areas responsible for emotion and memory.

The design for this show feature at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival created an intimate and immersive space intended to bring together different generations through the medium of scent, memory and shared stories. It show-cased aromatic and tactile plants, principally from the Lamiaceae family. These provided sensory prompts that users of the garden could engage with as part of the sharing of past memories and the creation of new ones.

The design included a cocooning seating area formed from gabion crates filled with reclaimed construction materials, with a seat of reclaimed teak. Within and around this structure, planting pockets brought plants to eye level with users of the space, as well as offering a range of conditions to suit individual species.