About the Border
After the Rain is a sculptural, atmospheric border that treats the landscape like a curated installation. At its heart sits a striking multi-stem river birch, it’s peeling bark colour links to the bronze sculptures by sculptor jewellers Yunus & Eliza that catch and hold rainwater, adding detail and texture.
A shallow channel divides the design into wet and dry zones, shaping how water moves and how the planting responds. Moisture-loving plants fill the basin, while tougher, drought-tolerant species line the banks.
The garden demonstrates how practical water management can double as high design, creating a space that feels immersive, resilient, and finely crafted.
Design Inspiration and Purpose
The design blends Tomas Olesen’s background in furniture and exhibition design with his horticultural training. Inspired by the ‘material truth’ philosophy of his mentor Peter Marigold, Tomas treats the border as a constructed volume shaped by water flow, structure, and texture.
The work of sculptors Yunus & Eliza, specifically their intricate botanical cast, drives the dialogue between permanent bronze elements and ephemeral, seasonal planting. The garden invites visitors to view drainage not as something to hide, but as a central, expressive feature. It is proof that climate-resilient design can be practical, sculptural, and beautiful all at once.
Sustainability
Sustainability is embedded in the build:
- Cut and Fill: Soil from the swale is repurposed to build up planting mounds, reducing transport, waste, and carbon footprint
- No Concrete: Structure is created using reclaimed rock and soft engineering
- Water Management: The swale acts as a Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) that encourages water to slow down, filter naturally, and reduce runoff
- Reclamation: Materials include damp-proof membrane off-cuts and reused rocks
- Future Life: After the show, all plants will be reused in future projects, and sculptures return to the artists’ studio
Planting
The planting creates a ‘jewelled meadow’ effect, driven by strong structure, deep colour, and layered texture. The palette relies on deep tones, velvety Iris purples, crimson cirsium, pure white ranunculus highlights, and warm apricot geums that reflect the copper in the birch bark and bronze art.
Key Planting:
- Betula nigra – The central, multi-stem tree linking the living garden to the bronze bark casts
- Iris sibirica – Strong verticals and rich colour echoing the sharp lines of the sculptures
- Thalictrum filamentosum – Airy white flowers that float above the planting like mist
- Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’ – Dark foliage creating contrast and depth
- Melica uniflora – Fresh, bright green texture that softens the darker planting
About the Designer
Tomas Olesen is a spatial and furniture designer turned garden designer, bringing over a decade of experience in fabrication, installation, and material-led design.
He has worked internationally, creating technical installations for artists such as Louis Masai and INSA, and designing immersive environments for the Saatchi Gallery and Moniker Art Fair. His practice also includes socially engaged work, such as a V&A mentoring project helping newly housed people create furniture from reclaimed materials.
Tomas brings this blend of craft, structure, and narrative to garden design. Applying the technical rigour of his own bonsai practice, he treats each border like a three-dimensional artwork, using structural pruning and precise placement to create atmosphere, integrity, and “instant age.”
What are the advantages of designing a garden at the Festival?
For Tomas, designing a show border is a chance to step away from the constraints of private commissions and pursue a pure, high-concept idea—much like a designer creating a concept car.
This project is a milestone for the designer as he approaches the completion of his design diploma. It is an opportunity to establish his design voice, collaborate deeply with Yunus & Eliza, and demonstrate that he can deliver a technically complex, sculptural garden at the highest professional standard.
