Kim Wilkie - Orpheus at Boughton

 Sculpting the Land with Kim Wilkie - Plant Talk

I chose to look at the designer Kim Wilkie because I was fascinated by the strong use of mathematical symbols and geometry in this garden. This is not how I personally choose to approach design. However, I am drawn in by the meaning behind his design choices. For example, the inverted pyramid “Orpheus” that descends 7m below the surrounding grass was built to reflect the raised mound next to it “Mount Olympus”. People can walk down this pyramid and look into the shallow pool at the bottom that reflects the sky above. I have recently learnt about labyrinths and their use for promoting peace and reflection, although this isn’t a labyrinth, I’m sure it has a similar effect. Wilkie named this inverted pyramid after a famous musician in Greek mythology, who when his wife died, he went into the underworld to try to reclaim her. Hades found his music so beautiful that he returned Orpheus’ wife to the world of the living. (Boughton House, 2022). Deep meaning like this is something I really want to weave into my own designs as I think it allows for a much more thought-provoking landscape. 

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