The David Harber and Savills Garden

Visitors travel through a physical manifestation of evolution, with clearly defined stages of planting and sculpture that serve to reflect varying time periods – from the bronze age to the present day. This narrative is designed to reference the impact that mankind is having on the environment.

The showcase will offer a ‘wormhole’ view through the ages, culminating with a view of the main sculptural piece, the ‘Aeon’ by David Harber, which represents a timeless, ‘vital force’.

As visitors wander through the immersive garden, they will move from the freeform and naturalistic planting and artworks that reflect the life of early man, to a more formal and controlled environment. The only abiding constant is the Aeon.

Made from bronze with a gold-plated starburst/iris-effect centre, the Aeon will sit in front of a three-metre tall Design Clad Porcelain wall from London Stone, which represents the infinite universe.

Visitors start their journey through the garden at ‘Stage 0 – Creation’: the planting is wild and the sculptural piece, the Coluna, symbolises organic evolution from Mother Earth. Made from oxidized steel, the Coluna’s form reflects our DNA. This is followed by three stages of intricate screens: First, visitors will travel through ‘Stage 1 – Enclosure’ which reflects man’s first attempts to enclose and control his immediate environment. ‘Stage 2 – Refinement’ sees a screen that communicates man’s emerging appreciation for aesthetics. The screen for Stage 3 boasts a crisp, Stage 0 – Creation geometric pattern that reveals a flaw within, which further stands to symbolise the negative impact man has had on the environment and the planet's equilibrium.

Finally, before visitors reach the Aeon, they are offered a moment for ‘Contemplation & Reflection’.‘Contemplation’ is a bench that references the helix and DNA, and provides a quiet place to sit and muse. ‘Reflection’, a water feature, provides a calming focal point and serves as a reminder of the elemental forces of nature.

Plant list