andy’s chelsea diary: benches

Our benches for The Mind Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 are being created by the sculptor Johnny Woodford. He is working with windblown oak to create organic shapes that are further carved for texture and then will be preserved through charring using the Japanese art of shou sugi ban.

 

 

The main pieces of wood have been selected and cut to size, but we are still working with smaller models to experiment with the exact texture of the seats. These benches will provide places for contemplation and conversation. The organic feel of the seats will resonate with the no-straight-lines nature inspired design of the space.