Stem Cell
In Ireland’s monastic tradition the ‘cell’ is seen as a retreat from the world and Hugh hopes that ‘Stem Cell’ can be viewed as a modern retreat with stems, i.e. plants. Here the walls of the ‘cell’ have been exploded and re-arranged to give a semi-enclosed space where screening is provided by both the walls and the embracing plants.
With over 50% of the world’s population now living in urban areas, the pressure on space and the environment means that the concept of the ‘garden’ is rapidly changing. The escape offered by public gardens, as well as by private gardens, takes on an even greater significance, and the task of designing smaller spaces which can offer a sense of sanctuary as opposed to the feeling of being ‘hemmed-in’ becomes crucial.
After studying architecture at Dublin Institute of Technology, Bolton Street (1969-1973), Hugh turned his attention to landscape design in 1977. He draws his inspiration from both the natural and the built environment and believes that the skill of designing is to not only resolve the requirement of the client and of the site but to go beyond this and to endeavor to create a garden that will become a thing of beauty, capable of affecting our emotions. Hugh loves to travel and is happiest when he is exploring new ideas and new methods, and in so doing, attempting to develop new ways of combining form and shape, along with color and movement. He is a Registered Member of the Society of Garden Designers and the Institute of Designers in Ireland.(View profile)
