We are delighted to announce that the Dalston Eastern Curve Garden (photo above by Sarah Blee) won a Hackney Design Award at the ceremony in Stoke Newington Town Hall on 23 November.
Here’s what the judges said: “Entering, through the almost hidden doors beside the Peace Mural, the Judges found themselves in an oasis of tranquility compared to the bustling urban environment of Dalston Junction. Full of natural materials and with the ‘back garden’ like vegetable patches between meandering paths – we immediately felt welcome. The barn structure was simple and yet very attractive. Its five separate but open spaces were clearly being used in a variety of ways during our visit. Other groups of people were scattered throughout the garden, drinking tea and enjoying the sunshine… the Garden is an excellent example of how an abandoned piece of land can be affordably transformed into an asset that enhances the locality and benefits the community. Every inch has a strong sense of community spirit.”
The design team for the garden and ‘barn’ structure included J&L Gibbons LLP, muf architecture art and EXYZT, and young apprentices from the Forest Road Youth Hub helped with the construction. It was funded by the London Development Agency/Design for London as part of the ‘Making Space in Dalston’ project and is supported by Hackney Council.
You can read about all of the winners and commended projects on Hackney Council’s Design Awards page.
Thanks to all the volunteers who have donated seedlings, nurtured the plants throughout their first growing season and helped make the Garden such a beautiful space.
Work starts on transforming a derelict railway into a garden.
Photograph by Nic Henninger/EXYZT
