Life on Mars Lands at Chelsea Flower Show
February 2007
Outer space arrives at the Chelsea Flower Show
for the first time ever this year in the form of terrestrial Mars
garden ‘600 Days With Bradstone’. Inspired by a new era in
scientific thinking, Sarah Eberle’s design can certainly be
described as being out of this world!
The designer has created the personal space of
an astronaut on a tour of duty on Mars lasting 600 days, with
particular attention paid to the psychological importance of man’s
relationship with his environment.
The garden is sub-divided into two
interlocking spaces with different functions. The front
incorporates a spring where the water forms a fine mist as it
emerges from the ground. The majority of this area is given
over to growing luxury food items, to support the psychological
welfare of the astronaut, as well as plants with healing properties
such as arnica, opium poppy and calendula.
The rear is an area of relaxation with a
hanging chair and a rest pod where the astronaut can retire in
order to maintain a natural 24-hour cycle. Both the seating
and the rest area have been designed to suit the gravity on the
planet, making the angle of the repose position somewhat different
to here on Earth!
The paving throughout the garden is designed
to resemble the scorched clay patterns seen on Mars, with the
overall colour scheme echoing the dark greys, burnt oranges and
coppers found on the planet. Plants that grow quickly and
exhibit constant change have been chosen for the garden as these
are psychologically important to the astronaut. It has also
been important to include familiar plants that evoke memories of
life back home on Earth.
Sarah says, “I’ve been researching this garden
for the past eight years with the help of the European Space Agency
and the British Science Museum. It’s been a fascinating
journey and I’m really pleased with the final design.
“The challenge with this garden is to
integrate both the physical and psychological needs of an astronaut
into a design which could actually be created on Mars
today. In a nutshell, it’s about stretching my scientific
brain as well as my aesthetic one!”
Ian Wright from Bradstone adds, “We’re
delighted to be working with Sarah again after our gold success at
the show last year. This is the first time that a garden at
the Chelsea Flower Show has been set in outer space and I can’t
wait to see the design brought to life.”
The Chelsea Flower Show runs from 22 May to 26
May. See ‘600 Days with Bradstone’ on MA22.
You can visit the 600 Days With Bradstone micro site at
www.600dayswithbradstone.com.