A Garden for the Future, Gotland, Sweden

A Nordic visitor showgarden embracing sustainable methods, using local materials and native plants, with a plan for the future.

An interactive garden to explore local flora and materials

MISSION

As climate change and how we respond to it has become an undeniable factor in design, this project aims to take a hopeful and constructive path, by creating an invitation to experience nature in an interactive way.

INSPIRATION

The site boasts an 1800’s windmill. The farm also has its own sign, a type of wheel. On the many ancient picture stones found on the island, which predate the viking age, wheels that are reminiscent of spirals are seen. On the island are also a large amount of ancient labyrinths, another form of spiral/wheel. The various wheels and spirals all seem connected to the land, nature, the sun, the planet and the human condition of growth cycles and time.

Masterplan Key

[A] Windmill & Wetland Pond

[B] Native Plant Garden

[C] Cafe / Nursery / Workshop / Lavatories

[D] Meadow

[E] Tree Labyrinth

[F] Wind Tunnel

[G] Kitchen Garden

[H] Amphitheatre with Vista

[I] Office and staff building

[J ] Spiral Trees

[K] Woodland

[L ] Nuttery

[L1] Orchard

[M] Rose Garden

[N] Greenhouse & Cutting Garden

[O] Pedestrian entry

[P] Parking/Deliveries

[Q] Seating Area

[R] Lunch Seating

[S] Sunrise & Sunset Cafe Seating

[T} Tractor access to field

Process

PROJECT BRIEF

The garden is to be a sustainable, design driven show garden and nursery with a visitor cafe and gift shop, a small studio and workshop space for an office team of six and visitors. The venue will be run by a local nature preservation non-profit organisation. They have received an extremely generous donation by a an anonymous business man with strong ties to the island, who prefers to be anonymous.

RESPONSE TO SITE

The sense of place, as well as its history, drives the inspiration. Wheels, spirals and circles are found throughout the site, as well as the island at large. Experiencing the site should feel like one, continuous movement, one flow of motion through different, connected worlds. This represents the uninterrupted spiral and cycle of growth, of time and the sun, of life. Continuous movement with opportunities for pause. The wheel from the research represents this continuous circle, wheel, spiral, sun. The differences between the spaces should be physical, and emotional. To interact with nature, to hear water and birds, to feel the wind, to sense the moisture in the ground.