The Terrance Higgin’s Trust, Bridge to 2030 Garden

Swyn was fortunate to be part of the team behind The Terrence Higgins Trust Bridge to 2030 Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, designed by Matthew Childs for Project Giving Back and the Terrence Higgins Trust. Leading the furniture team, Swyn drew inspiration from the traditional Welsh stick-back chair, reinterpreting this archetype of Welsh furniture through a contemporary lens.

To create a transition between the stone and timber elements within the garden, Swyn designed a bench that appears to extrude from a granite boulder. The piece incorporates cuts reminiscent of those used in the stone-cutting process, paying homage to traditional stone craftsmanship and echoing other material details found throughout the garden.

The garden itself evokes a reclaimed quarry landscape in North Wales, partly inspired by the 1980s AIDS awareness campaign that featured a monolithic tombstone. From this once-fearful imagery, the design explores how plants can transform and soften a harsh, industrial landscape.

“It’s a beautiful metaphor for the resilience of the HIV story,” Childs explained, “but also, as horticulturists and gardeners, it speaks to how our gardens must adapt to changing climates.”