Hamptons scooped a Gold medal for the Komorebi Garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, a Container Garden designed by Masa Taniguchi – an RHS first timer.
Hamptons partnered for the third time with award-winning garden designers, Garden Club London, and worked specifically with RHS first-timer Masa Taniguchi, and four-time previous RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold medal winner, Tony Woods, to create the enchanting Komorebi Garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
The Komorebi Garden, named after the Japanese word 木漏れ日, is the magical moment when light pierces the tree canopy and gently swaying branches make dancing shadows: that’s komorebi.
The garden brings to life this Japanese concept by the sculptural forms of multi-stem birch trees, offering the idea of a pocket forest beyond the back door.
IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
The innovative design aims to offer visitors at this year’s show a personal and immersive experience, allowing them to connect with nature and find moments of peace in their busy life.
Pic Credit: The RHS
Masa Taniguchi brings a wealth of knowledge and his unique lived experience to this project. Born in Nagoya, and having faced challenges in Japan’s conformist education system, Masa’s passion for learning was reignited by Hiroko Miwa’s book ‘Midori iro no yasumi jikan’ (Respite in the Greenery), set in North Wales.
This literary inspiration led him to Bangor at the age of 18, where he began his UK education, pursuing garden design and horticulture.
Today, Masa is a Lead Horticulturalist at Garden Club London, and whilst he has supported on other projects at Chelsea Flower Show, this is his first entry at the show.
TRANQUILITY AND PEACE
Taniguchi says: “My aim was to create a garden that tells the story of my past all within an oasis of pure tranquillity and peace, whilst also giving guests and visitors a taste of my Japanese culture, and I was thrilled to be able to do exactly that.
“With the help and support of Garden Club London and the sponsorship of Hamptons, my dream garden became a reality, and I couldn’t be happier with the result and to be awarded with a Gold medal is a life defining moment.”
Tony Woods, Founder of Garden Club London, adds: “The Komorebi Garden, named after the Japanese concept that describes the magical interplay of light and shadows through tree canopies, showcases Masa’s unique perspective and his journey from Nagoya to becoming a Lead Horticulturalist at Garden Club London.
“His innovative design brings a pocket forest to life and offers visitors a deeply personal and immersive experience.
“This Gold medal is recognition of Masa’s talent and a celebration of the successful collaboration between Hamptons and Garden Club London. It highlights our commitment to nurturing creativity and bringing exceptional garden designs to life.
“We’re immensely proud of Masa’s achievement and look forward to seeing how this success will inspire future projects and innovations in garden design.”
SMALL SPACE, BIG IDEAS
This year, Hamptons chose to enter the container garden category – where small space gardens take on big ideas to show how it’s possible to maximise underutilised spaces.
The Komorebi Garden illustrated how even the most limited outdoor areas can be reimagined as personal sanctuaries.
It included a viewing platform amidst a grove of birch trees, naturalistic log water feature, unique portable lighting, charcoal feature walls & lush green underplanting.
EXCEPTIONAL TALENT
Lesley Cairns, Managing Director at Hamptons, says: “We are delighted to announce our Gold medal win at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show for the Komorebi Garden, a stunning container garden designed by Masa Taniguchi.
“As an RHS first-timer, Masa’s exceptional talent has been rightfully recognised on one of horticulture’s most celebrated stages.
“This marks our third successful collaboration with Garden Club London, each partnership showcasing extraordinary design vision. This year, we deliberately chose to move away from larger ‘sanctuary gardens’ to demonstrate how compact spaces, particularly in urban environments, can be transformed into personal havens of tranquillity.
“The Komorebi Garden exemplifies how outdoor spaces of any size can enhance daily life and create moments of peace. Visitors to the show can experience this award-winning design throughout the week.”
COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
There were 37 gardens at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show – made up of six Show Gardens, 10 Small Show Gardens, five Container Gardens, five Balcony Gardens, four All About Plants, six Houseplant Studios and one Show Feature Garden.
In line with Garden Club London and Hamptons’ commitment to sustainability, The Komorebi Garden will be repurposed after the show and given a second life. The hard landscape components will be relocated to a school wildlife project in Kent, with any remaining items auctioned for charity.
More information HERE.
