Five gardens that are authentic works of art

BarcelonaNaturalistic, community, wild, urban, botanical, minimalist, edible, floral gardens... The range of gardens found around the world seems almost infinite and is constantly evolving, always responding to the needs of each era. And this isn't a contemporary phenomenon, because throughout the history of gardening, each period has had its own style, reflecting the aesthetic preferences of each time and culture, as well as the climatic conditions, the terrain, and the materials available. From the hydraulic efficiency and symmetry of Egyptian gardens, through the multifunctionality and emphasis on landscaping in ancient Greece, to the spatial control of medieval gardens, the minimalism of Japanese gardens, or the geometric rigor of French gardens.

In the case of contemporary gardens, the great challenge in their design is sustainability, which demands a firm commitment to technological innovation and the need to conserve biodiversity. Twenty-first-century gardens incorporate new water-efficient systems and adapt to the reality of limited space, especially in urban areas. This has led to a proliferation of vertical gardens and green roofs, with a focus on so-called edible gardens and plants and flowers capable of adapting to varying climatic conditions.

If you would like to discover some of the most spectacular contemporary gardens around the world, you can delve into the pages of the book Contemporary gardensPublished by Phaidon, this book is a compilation of the most innovative modern gardens, showcasing the work of renowned designers such as Piet Oudolf and Sarah Price, and studios like Terremoto and Reed Hilderbrand. Within its pages, you'll discover everything from rooftop gardens to wildflower meadows, spaces that reaffirm the importance of gardens and the ever-increasing need to reconnect with nature. It offers a comprehensive review of 300 gardens created between the mid-1990s and the present day, selected by design, gardening, and horticulture professionals.

The Water Theatre's grove, a favorite haunt of King Louis XIV, became the first garden at the Palace of Versailles to be reconstructed since the 18th century in 2015. The redesign, by Louis Benech, pays homage to the original designs created by André Le Nôtre between 1671 and 1674. Spanning over 1.5 hectares, the garden now boasts a contemporary look while remaining true to its past. Benech enlisted the help of sculptor Jean-Michel Othoniel, who created three sculptural fountains inspired by the work of Raoul-Auger Feuillet, the Sun King's dance teacher. The garden plays with symmetries and asymmetries, featuring circular ponds, islands, and walkways distributed throughout a space dominated by evergreen trees, with a solitary yew tree on one of the islands being a particularly striking feature.

This creation is the work of Jimi Blake, who began working as a gardener at a young age. He studied in Dublin, where he spearheaded the successful restoration of the local airfield's public gardens. He poured all his creativity into this garden in County Wicklow, which he began building in 2001. The garden is divided into several zones, from herbaceous flowerbeds to shady woodlands crisscrossed by pathways. Blake's penchant for striking shapes and textures, as well as a rich palette of colors, is evident throughout. Inspired by landscapes in countries such as China, Australia, and South Africa, the garden has been evolving over the years. His latest addition is the Sand Garden, featuring a unique mix of conifers, succulents, and alpine plants.

A creation by landscape architect Erik Dhont dating from 2005, this garden is a prime example of his characteristic style, demonstrating a deep understanding of Belgian history and a commitment to integrating modern aesthetics with ecological principles. At the Bonemhoeve estate, he designed a garden intended to preserve the privacy of a restored farmhouse, respecting the surrounding rural landscape and its canals. The garden is dotted with bronze and stone sculptures that contrast with the more ephemeral nature of the plants. It is a lush refuge where nature and culture intertwine, and where birds, insects, and works of art coexist.

A garden that demonstrates how nature itself is the primary source of inspiration for Clara Muñoz-Rojas and Belén Moreu. They see landscape design as both an art and a tool that connects us with the natural world. In Ávila, they designed this dry garden in 2021, which requires little water for its upkeep and looks especially stunning in the shadow of the Sierra de Gredos mountains. A naturalistic planting that evokes the wild environment surrounding this private property, it is based on Mediterranean species, with shrubs that provide structure mixed with plants that add movement and reflect the changing seasons.

A space that showcases the richness of Australian flora. A 25-hectare botanical garden that brings together science and art and includes a vast, bustling habitat in danger of extinction. The garden opened in two phases, in 2006 and 2012, and is the work of landscape architect Taylor Cullity Lethlean, who collaborated with horticulturist Paul Thompson. Cullity created a design around the symbolic journey of a river that rises in a central desert, flows through rocky outcrops, and empties into an estuary. A garden that is home to thousands of species, including some very emblematic ones, such as the shrubs. kangaroo paweucalyptus trunks or specimens of what is known as bottle tree from Queensland.