RHS — Puccini Garden Design

For the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, PGD and Hollander Design collaborated with British sculptor David Harber to create a garden setting for the David Harber trade stand. Rather than approach the 20-by-30-foot space as a conventional exhibition, the design placed Harber’s sculptural work within the framework of a working heritage garden—one shaped by traditional horticultural and craft practices, including willow weaving, coppicing, pleaching, vegetable cultivation, and hand-built masonry. The landscape was conceived in dialogue with a collection of Harber’s works, including the newly introduced Nexa, as well as Torus, Dark Planet, and Flo.

The compressed installation schedule required a precise approach to planting and construction. Because custom-grown plant material was not available for the trade stand, the planting palette was selected at the nursery in early spring, with an emphasis on material that could provide immediate structure, texture, and seasonal character. On site, architectural and woody elements were established first, creating the garden’s underlying framework before grasses and herbaceous perennials were layered throughout to soften the composition and introduce movement.

The completed garden balanced sculpture, horticulture, and craftsmanship within a highly considered landscape. Formal elements and traditional techniques provided a sense of permanence, while the planting brought looseness and vitality, creating a setting in which the artwork felt integrated into the garden rather than simply displayed within it.