Chelsea Flower Show 2010

The Places of Change garden is the largest show garden ever exhibited at Chelsea Flower Show, and it's aims were to highlight the hidden treasures and skills amongst the most excluded in our society.

Architecture Sans Frontieres worked with the enterprise for homeless people NOAH in Luton to create, and build, a concept that was to be presented to millions of visitors and viewers. The garden tells the story of a barren land that develops in to rich pastures of crops that can be used in industry.

This allegory to the lives of the marginalised was illustrated by separating the barren wastelands from the fertile bands of crops by an abstract, perforated wall made of white goods (washing machines etc.). You can see through this wall to the optimistic landscape beyond, but according to the homeless ‘learners' , they often feel that there's a physical barrier between them and the progression to an active, working role in society.

NOAH take on faulty White Goods to repair them before selling them on. The skills that the learners take on board help them gain certificates to assist them with future employment, as does the work they've completed for the Chelsea Flower Show. The white goods used for the wall were all rejected parts, and the wall was planted up with pioneer species such as ivy, stinging nettles and cow parsley to look surprisingly beautiful- it was certainly a first at an RHS Flower Show!

The feedback and media coverage has been very generous, accepting that this was one the most ambitious concepts at this years show. Congratulations to Seki Hirano from ASF and NOAH on their silver medal.