The avant garde garden design movement dispenses with traditional conceptions of gardens in favor of a more sculpture-like approach. These "Supertrees", designed by Grant Associates, are found in Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. The Supertrees, conceived to be like mature trees "without the wait", are the height of a tall building and support a living "skin" of plants.
The world's most avant garde gardens —
The avant garde garden design movement dispenses with traditional conceptions of gardens in favor of a more sculpture-like approach. These "Supertrees", designed by Grant Associates, are found in Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. The Supertrees, conceived to be like mature trees "without the wait", are the height of a tall building and support a living "skin" of plants.
Courtesy Glen Obejera Espinosa
When confronted with the plantless expanse of a former cornfield surrounding his newly built house, Pearl Fryar decided to buy some shrubs. 30 years later, Fryar's 150-plus topiaries have taken the form of astounding, free-flowing, abstract, sometimes whimsical artistic creations.
The world's most avant garde gardens —
When confronted with the plantless expanse of a former cornfield surrounding his newly built house, Pearl Fryar decided to buy some shrubs. 30 years later, Fryar's 150-plus topiaries have taken the form of astounding, free-flowing, abstract, sometimes whimsical artistic creations.
Dustin Shores Photography
The Australian Garden in Melbourne, Australia, is a botanical garden where around 3,000 species are able to flourish due to its optimum climate. Designed by Taytlor Cullity Lethlean Landscape Architects with Paul Thompson, it is intended to engage and inspire visitors rather than simply showcase a collection of plants.
The world's most avant garde gardens —
The Australian Garden in Melbourne, Australia, is a botanical garden where around 3,000 species are able to flourish due to its optimum climate. Designed by Taytlor Cullity Lethlean Landscape Architects with Paul Thompson, it is intended to engage and inspire visitors rather than simply showcase a collection of plants.
Courtesy of Phaidon
In the Coastal Edge Garden of the Australian Garden, a sequence of abstract, water-based landings complete the impression of an avant garde, experimental garden.
The world's most avant garde gardens —
In the Coastal Edge Garden of the Australian Garden, a sequence of abstract, water-based landings complete the impression of an avant garde, experimental garden.
Courtesy of Phaidon
This may look like a tropical swamp, but it is part of the eccentric and eclectic Lotusland gardens in Santa Barbara, California. Created by the flamboyant Polish opera singer Ganna Waska, it features this water garden, created in an old swimming pool. Asian lotuses were planted in "a tribute to Eastern philosophy".
The world's most avant garde gardens —
This may look like a tropical swamp, but it is part of the eccentric and eclectic Lotusland gardens in Santa Barbara, California. Created by the flamboyant Polish opera singer Ganna Waska, it features this water garden, created in an old swimming pool. Asian lotuses were planted in "a tribute to Eastern philosophy".
Courtesy of PHAIDON
1 Abkhazi Garden, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Prince Nicholas Abkhazi, Princess Peggy Abkhazi, John Wade, 20th century
The world's most avant garde gardens —
1 Abkhazi Garden, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Prince Nicholas Abkhazi, Princess Peggy Abkhazi, John Wade, 20th century
Chris Cheadle / All Canada Photos / Corbi
The Huntington Gardens in San Marino, California, are home to one of the most extensive cultivated collections of botanical exploration in the world. The collection includes two-thirds of the world's known species of aloe. The Desert Garden, pictured, includes rare golden barrel cacti, the ribs of which expand and contract as they store and use water.
The world's most avant garde gardens —
The Huntington Gardens in San Marino, California, are home to one of the most extensive cultivated collections of botanical exploration in the world. The collection includes two-thirds of the world's known species of aloe. The Desert Garden, pictured, includes rare golden barrel cacti, the ribs of which expand and contract as they store and use water.
Courtesy of PHAIDON
The Oasis d'Aboukir in Paris, France, is one of French botanist Patrick Blanc's most renowned vertical gardens. He has been making them for more then three decades, combining his deep botanical knowledge with a near-evangelical urge to bring gardens into the most inaccessible parts of the city. This example contains 7,600 plants, taken from 237 species.
The world's most avant garde gardens —
The Oasis d'Aboukir in Paris, France, is one of French botanist Patrick Blanc's most renowned vertical gardens. He has been making them for more then three decades, combining his deep botanical knowledge with a near-evangelical urge to bring gardens into the most inaccessible parts of the city. This example contains 7,600 plants, taken from 237 species.
Courtesy of PHAIDON
Olinda, in Victoria, Australia, is the personal garden of Philip Johnson, who won Best in Show at Chelsea 2013. It is planted on an extremely steep site, with an angle of 23 degrees, and seems to defy erosion. Every drop of rainwater is captured and "endlessly recycled", and during the bushfire danger season, an elaborate computer-driven system triggers hidden sprays when the risk of fire is high.
The world's most avant garde gardens —
Olinda, in Victoria, Australia, is the personal garden of Philip Johnson, who won Best in Show at Chelsea 2013. It is planted on an extremely steep site, with an angle of 23 degrees, and seems to defy erosion. Every drop of rainwater is captured and "endlessly recycled", and during the bushfire danger season, an elaborate computer-driven system triggers hidden sprays when the risk of fire is high.
Courtesy of PHAIDON
The Central Garden at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, USA, is a dramatic Modernist experiment which moves garden design away from established convention and towards a conception of garden-as-sculpture. The designer, Robert Irwin, said: "After a certain time, once the garden got going, it changed all the rules."
The world's most avant garde gardens —
The Central Garden at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, USA, is a dramatic Modernist experiment which moves garden design away from established convention and towards a conception of garden-as-sculpture. The designer, Robert Irwin, said: "After a certain time, once the garden got going, it changed all the rules."
Courtesy of PHAIDON
When it comes to the marriage of artistic creation and garden design, what survey would be complete without mention of Monet's famed Water Garden? Inspired by his interest in Japanese woodcuts, Monet regrouped plants such as water lilies, irises and willows that grew naturally near the Epte River to create a vision of paradise that he could paint again and again.
The world's most avant garde gardens —
When it comes to the marriage of artistic creation and garden design, what survey would be complete without mention of Monet's famed Water Garden? Inspired by his interest in Japanese woodcuts, Monet regrouped plants such as water lilies, irises and willows that grew naturally near the Epte River to create a vision of paradise that he could paint again and again.
Heinz Wohner / LOOK/Getty Images