The Ecotherapy Garden

Imagined as a small London courtyard, a Thames-yellow brick wall supports a hanging green garden that aligns with biophilic principles of people’s innate attraction to nature.

A cold plunge pool enveloped in lush planting is the centrepiece of the garden. The clear water reflects the surrounding greenery.

At a glance:

Who is this garden for? 
A domestic courtyard.
Where is the garden set?  
London.
Who or what is the design inspiration?
Biophilic principles and cold-plunge therapy.

A trio of antique waterspouts emerge through the green wall, feeding a series of pools. A rill passes through the planting leading into a final cascade. The gentle sound of the water creates a soothing soundscape.
 
The space aims to rejuvenate physical and mental well-being – after a cold plunge, a bench offers a place for contemplation. The handmade hyper-tufa containers have a weathered texture. The containers highlight gardening versatility in confined spaces whilst celebrating the gardener-craft relationship
 
This intimate garden provides a quiet retreat, seamlessly integrating hard landscaping, nature, and wellness to highlight the benefits of ecotherapy.
 

Key sustainability points

• The containers are durable and can be homemade.
• The containers have been made from a lightweight, sustainable hyper-tufa recipe of Perlite, coconut coir, and cement. Traditionally, hypertufa has been made using peat soil but the coconut coir helps towards a more sustainable method of constructing a very hardwearing material that will last for over 30 years, even in very cold weather.

Relocation

After the the show, the garden will be donated to a primary school where the designer is in the process of designing a peace garden.