In 2022, year 12 Landscape Architecture students at Gungahlin College were set the task to design a garden concept for the Gallery of Gardens at the National Arboretum Canberra.
The students were asked to come up with a design theme for their proposed garden, adjacent to the existing row of gardens.
The design brief encouraged students to explore and understand:
- environmental conditions
- appropriate and existing themes
- native and exotic plant species
- symbolism and position in relation to the rest of the Arboretum
- existing topography
- views
- prevailing winds
- sun direction
- existing trees and built elements which may be retained
- existing traffic conditions
- seating areas
- areas for creative play and exploration
For students it was a great opportunity to further develop their design skills, as well as basic knowledge in other areas like horticultural practices, plant identification and usage.
Initially putting the designs on paper, students followed by building the design into a presentation, a few of which can be viewed by clicking the links below:
- Briony Rukavina - Earth Reflection Garden
- Jesse Heighway - Meditation Garden
- Natalie Hardy - Covid-19 Garden
- Mayumi Esteves - Sisters’ Garden
Although these designs are conceptual and are not eventuating into a garden in the Gallery of Gardens, we hope to have inspired these students into future careers in landscape architecture or even horticulture.