This project, a collaboration with Todd Longstaffe-Gowan, reinterpreted the courtyard of the Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore. The courtyard, which is inaccessible, was treated as a vitrine, or terrarium, containing an “other” landscape of tree ferns and mist.

From the surrounding buildings the views of the courtyard come as a surprise, but the planting makes complete sense: the tree ferns thrive in the deep shade, and there is enough heat from the building (along with London’s urban heat Island effect) to protect these half- hardy species against winter weather; moreover, the mist, as well as being visually appealing, serves to water the ferns, which could not draw enough moisture from the dry soil under the plane tree at the centre of the court.