Photo credit: Mark Vessey
A view of the Pure Land Foundation garden
A garden that uses airpop – previously known as expanded polystyrene – has won an award at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
The Pure Land Foundation garden won a silver gilt award in the ‘Fresh’ category for “capturing the organic shapes of the landscapes inspired by nature’s natural rhythms.”
Designed by Fernando Gonzalez Garden Deisgn and built by The Garden Builders, the curvilinear white shimmering airpop structure was manufactured using advanced computer cutting technologies by The CNC Factory based in Uxbridge, Middlesex. The airpop was finished with a lightweight marble-like coating called Jesmonite.
Gonzalez said: “I am excited to showcase and integrate these truly 21st century processes and materials into a garden context.”
The airpop structure not only allowed the creation of strong curves and natural wave shapes, but also reportedly provided the perfect growing environment by allowing the reflection of high levels of light onto the plants as well as creating ideal moisture-retaining planting areas.
Chairman of the EPS Group of the British Plastics Federation, David Emes, explained that airpop is becoming an increasingly popular choice in the creative arts. “As well as strength, light weight and design versatility, airpop is an excellent environmental solution in the creative world. It is 98 percent air and is recyclable at the end of its life.”