Gold Medal
The Children's Society Garden is a nurturing sanctuary designed to offer teenagers a sense of safety, peace, and connection - a space to support emotional wellbeing in a world that can often feel overwhelming. Inspired by designer Patrick Clarke's mission to restore optimism and hope in young people, the garden reimagines an urban landscape shaped in collaboration with teenagers, ensuring their voices are central to its design.
The features the concept of beauty in imperfection. The concept of perfection and the feeling of things having to be 'perfect' is causing great anxiety in young people today. Through social media there is an intense pressure to be, and have a life that is, 'perfect'. The garden celebrates small hidden elements of imperfection. The design of the garden takes discarded waste materials and transforms them to celebrate their imperfections, making them arguably more beautiful. We fashion subtle repairs to offer greater resilience to material imperfections, highlighting the gentle interventions that The Children's Society offer young people to find their own beauty and resilience.
Overhead, a canopy of recycled steel rafters, inlaid with handcrafted glass, filters soft, dappled light - a symbol of resilience and the quiet strength found in moments of pause and support.
The planting scheme echoes this story of renewal, with vibrant spring greens, buttery yellows, and rich purples chosen for their ability to thrive in challenging conditions. Together, these elements create a welcoming, restorative environment where teenagers can find safety, feel seen, supported and inspired.
The garden will be relocated to a youth support centre in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire which gives teenagers the time to talk, reflect and get the support they need without long waits or barriers.
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