A Space To Read Balcony Garden
Chelsea Flower Show 2025
Designed in collaboration with Ben Gifford, Sponsored by Viking
A love letter to the gentle synergy of books and gardening. Designed for a couple who are as passionate about plants as paperbacks, this verdant reading room is a nature filled space in which to relax and restore amid the hum of urban life.
A harmonious planting scheme weaves texture, scent, and colour into a living tapestry that evolves with the seasons.
Simple, tactile materials anchor the space such as brick, timber, and natural stone, chosen for their honesty and warmth. The rear wall features a bespoke brick pattern inspired by the spines of books on a shelf, subtly evoking the quiet order of a library. Integrated into this wall, a timber inlay forms a sculptural bookshelf, both functional and symbolic, paying homage to the paper and craft of bookmaking.
Thoughtfully placed timber shelves offer room for treasured possessions, potted plants, and a rotating selection of reading material. Generously cushioned armchairs invite long hours of rest and reflection, while vintage style anglepoise lights, carefully retrofitted to the garden’s walls, extend the invitation into the evening.
Every element is curated to foster stillness, imagination, and quiet joy. An outdoor reading room immersed in nature.
Awarded a Silver Gilt Medal
Design and Build: Freddie Strickland and Ben Gifford
Sponsor: Viking
Plants: Kelways
Photography: Kat Weatherill