A tranquil, modern island garden called "The Subaru Cocoon," featuring a boat-shaped planter made of dark grey blocks, lush trees and ferns, and a wooden walkway leading to two black chairs.
Show Garden Gold Medal

The Subaru Cocoon

Designed by Mike McMahon, Jewlsy Mathews
Photo: GardensDB
About this garden

The story

Once covering 20% of the UK but now reduced to just 1%, temperate rainforests are one of the country's most fragile and overlooked ecosystems. The Subaru Cocoon distills the essence of these landscapes, balancing naturalistic planting with a contemporary interpretation of the walled garden.

A perforated jali wall defines the space - enclosing yet open, structured yet porous. Crafted from K-Briq, a pioneering brick made from recycled building waste with just 5% of the embodied carbon of traditional bricks, it underscores the garden's sustainable ethos. The bricks' natural holes serve as insect hotels, offering sanctuary for pollinators, while lush planting in the top trough enhances biodiversity.

A reflective water threshold reimagines the garden door, leading to an elevated path that shifts perspectives. Planting weaves through the wall, softening its form, echoing the untamed beauty of the rainforest. A restrained seating area invites quiet contemplation. The furniture, sculpted from recycled paper, continues the garden's material honesty. Meanwhile, a palette of flowering plants enriches the ecosystem, drawing pollinators and sustaining local wildlife.

Awards

Recognition

  • Gold Medal
    RHS
  • Best Show Garden
    RHS
  • Best Construction Award
    RHS
Look around

360° photo

Loading panorama...

Unable to load panorama.

Tap and drag to look around. Pinch to zoom.

Photography

Gallery

/
Photo: