Magic Garden

The Magic Garden is a new interactive garden, designed by Robert Myers Associates on the site of King Henry VIII’s former tiltyard at Hampton Court Palace, London. 

 Robert Myers Associates, Magic Garden, London, 2016
The Magic Garden is a new interactive garden for families, designed by landscape architects Robert Myers Associates on the site of King Henry VIII’s former tiltyard at Hampton Court Palace. Formed around a strong garden structure, the landscape is layered with an array of enchanting and engaging character areas, where mythical beasts can be vanquished, battlements stormed, towers besieged and secret grottoes discovered.
 Robert Myers Associates, Magic Garden, London, 2016
Robert Myers Associates, Magic Garden, London, 2016
Lighting design studio Speirs + Major were approached to create an experience after dark for the new garden. Based on the idea of a journey of magical discoveries, their design uses light to transform the character areas into a series of lit ‘jewels’, while the surrounding landscape is left relatively darker as counterpoint.
 Robert Myers Associates, Magic Garden, London, 2016
Robert Myers Associates, Magic Garden, London, 2016

Associate Partner, Clementine Fletcher-Smith: “We loved the idea of the heightened sense of adventure that visitors could experience from exploring the garden ‘in the dark’. We could envisage visitors being excited to see the character areas appearing as glowing beacons in the landscape. Each is lit differently, as befits their differing character and themes, allowing people to (re)discover the attractions from a completely new perspective. For us, one of the central challenges was achieving this vision while maintaining a level of light that ensures the safety and security of all.”

 


Magic Garden, London
Landscape architect: Robert Myers Associates
Lighting design: Speirs + Major (Mark Major, Clementine Fletcher-Smith, Ewan Parsons)
Structural engineers: Michael Barclay
Electrical engineers: Chapman BDSP
Contractor: Frosts Landscape
Client: Historic Royal Palaces
Completion: 2016

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