Symbolism of water at heart of Hugo Bugg’s garden
LONDON – Hugo Bugg’s career as one of Britain’s most celebrated young garden designers has been driven by his desire to create gardens with underlying messages as bold and compelling as his designs. When the Chelsea 2014 Gold Medal-winning designer returns to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show next year (24-28 May 2016), Mr. Bugg will again partner with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) to weave his passion for water and its symbolism into the design of the ‘Royal Bank of Canada Garden’.
“I look at this garden as an extension of the RBC Waterscape Garden that I designed for the 2014 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. I want visitors to be inspired by the dynamic and sculptural elements of the garden’s design but also understand humanity’s fundamental need for water, not just for consumption, but as an element that cleanses and heals, sculpts and softens, brings barren landscapes to life and lifts our spirits. My hope is that visitors leave with an appreciation of water’s importance to so many cultures around the world.”
Drawing inspiration from the Mediterranean pine habitat of Jordan, the design has water as the focal point at the heart of the garden. Bright, yet simple, plantings are coupled with bold geometric forms in a muted colour palette to create a mosaic of different shades and textures. Multi-faceted black basalt sculptural features are clustered together like water molecules in patterns historically and globally associated with water.
“I’ve designed the Royal Bank of Canada Garden to be aesthetically pleasing and emblematic of the endangered pine habitat of Dibeen in Jordan. When choosing plants, I’ve selected those that help illustrate how gardens in arid environments can have beautiful flora that require minimal rainfall,” continued Mr. Bugg. “I also wanted to incorporate traditional artisanal techniques in a contemporary and dynamic way. With that in mind, the garden’s boundary is made of sculptural stone and a traditional woven Bedouin goat wool fabric, which provides a dramatic backdrop to the design.”
The garden’s message of water’s importance is in keeping with the goals of the RBC Blue Water Project, a wide-ranging, global commitment to help protect the world’s fresh water resources.
“We are thrilled to partner with Hugo again for the 2016 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, following his Gold Medal success in 2014,” said Stuart Rutledge, CEO, RBC Wealth Management – International. “His design is a testament to the goals and principles of the RBC Blue Water Project. Hugo’s ability to express the importance of water and integrate it into a striking garden is extraordinary.”
About Hugo Bugg and Hugo Bugg Landscapes
At 27 years old, Hugo Bugg was the youngest ever winner of a gold medal for a large show garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show (2014) and is continually billed as one of the young garden designers to watch. Recently commissioned designer of the first Royal Botanic Gardens in Jordan (400 acre botanic garden in the mountains above Amman), Hugo Bugg was named Young Designer of the Year by the RHS in 2010.
Hugo Bugg Landscapes is one of the UK’s most celebrated new garden design practices, offering comprehensive and innovative garden design service throughout the UK and overseas. Based in Exeter, his studio provides seamless service from design to completion. His portfolio includes elegant and uplifting modern gardens in private and commercial settings. This ranges from London contemporary roof terraces and urban courtyards to large country gardens and public spaces.
About the RBC Blue Water Project
The RBC Blue Water Project is a historic, wide-ranging, 10-year global commitment to help protect the world’s most precious natural resource: fresh water. Since 2007, RBC has pledged nearly C$44 million to more than 740 charitable organizations worldwide that protect watersheds and promote access to clean drinking water, with an additional $8.8 million pledged to universities for water programs.
The RBC Blue Water Project is focused on supporting initiatives that help protect water in towns, cities, and urbanized areas. For further information, visit www.rbc.com/bluewater.
ABOUT RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is Canada’s largest bank, and one of the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We are one of North America’s leading diversified financial services companies, and provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management, asset management, insurance, investor services and capital markets products and services on a global basis. We employ approximately 79,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 38 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com.
RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2014, we contributed more than $111 million to causes worldwide, including donations and community investments of more than $76 million and $35 million in sponsorships.