Paul set for Chelsea return
DUNDAK’S most lauded landscape designer is set to make a return to the Chelsea Garden Show next year with his exclusive new creation ‘ The Garden of Mindful Living.’
Paul Martin has been invited to take part in the world’s most prestigious garden show for the second time.
The Mount Avenue native first exhibited in 2003, when he scooped the BBC People’s Choice Award.
Looking ahead to the 2016 show, Paul gave the Argus a glimpse of what he has planned.
‘It’s a contemporary modern garden owned by a busy city client, inspired by the love of far Eastern travel, yoga and a calm space to reboot after busy day at work.’
He added that the design features ‘clean lines and smart details like Corten walls and subtle grey splashed limestone, and large sliding shutters which open to reveal the sparkling city views at night.’
Paul has incorporated large multi stemmed trees which give ‘dappled shade to a planting palette of soft greens and yellows primulas, dancing beside secret rills of water escaping through blocks of limestone.’
He explained that the planting is used to create a ‘gentle, calm and relaxing space to unwind and restore one’s life balance.’
The Dundalk man has been designing gardens for nearly 30 years, having qualified in the National Botanic gardens in Dublin in 1986, where he gained a real passion for plants and plant combinations.
He is no stranger to exhibiting at RHS Flower Shows, having exhibited first in Tatton Park in 2002 then Chelsea in 2003.
The year 2006 saw Paul Martin design a large show garden inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, a garden called after his iconic house in America “Falling Waters”, a silver gilt medal was the result.
In 2011 he designed the Garden titled ‘Grays Garden’ with inspiration from Eileen Gray the famous interior and furniture designer from the early 20th century.
‘ The planting was different in that the plants were planted in interlocking blocks, with shades of cool blues and off whites.’
It won a gold medal, and paved the way for Paul to be invited to participate in the Singapore Garden Festival in 2012, alongside top UK designers Sarah Eberle and Andy Sturgeon, all of whom won gold.
It was an historical moment for the Dundalk designer as it was the very first time in the history of the show that there were any European gold medals.
In 2013, he designed the ‘Jardin du Gourmet’ with Vestra Wealth, at Hampton Court winning critical acclaim for a smart contemporary garden with edible plants winning Silver Gilt
It was another gold in 2014 when Paul won at Hampton Court with a contemporary garden with planting used to create many different levels. And 2015 saw Paul’s largest show garden ever, again at Hampton Court with a spectacular sunken sandstone amphitheatre, playing Handels music to celebrate the palaces 500th anniversary, which won him a silver gilt medal.
‘It’s a contemporary modern garden inspired by the love of far eastern travel’