Location: Dulwich College, United Kingdom 

The Burma Skincare Initiative is a UK-based charity working to improve access to quality skincare for people in Myanmar.

The brief was to create a garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 to highlight: 

• The partnership between British and Burmese clinicians 

• The charity's work in Myanmar 

• The lived experience of people with serious skin diseases

After the show, the garden was relocated in full to Dulwich College - a residential and day school in London.

The design 

The garden is a celebration of extraordinary people coming together to do extraordinary work. It is inspired by the partnership between dermatology communities in the UK and Myanmar. The garden celebrates partnership through a palette of plants that are found in Myanmar and will grow happily in the UK.

Bringing a touch of Southeast Asia to Central London, the garden features a hand-aged 16th-century Burmese stupa. A waterfall cascades through the garden to a serene pool above which sits a traditional Burmese stilt house. Layers of texture represent the lived experience of people with skin diseases.

The build 

The garden was built at the Chelsea Flower Show site in just 15 days. After the show, it was transported to Dulwich College where it was rebuilt during the school holidays.

Natural, UK-sourced, reclaimed and recycled materials were used for every element in the garden. A bench was formed from dry stone. Reclaimed timber was used for the stilt house and boardwalks. The ruined Burmese stupa was constructed from reclaimed London bricks - destined for hardcore.

Sustainable building techniques included dry bed foundations and dry stone walling. The efficiency of construction and breakdown was a key consideration in the design.

The impact 

The garden won a coveted RHS Gold medal and Best Sanctuary Garden. It received coverage in national newspapers, magazines, online and regional news as well as social media. The garden was visited by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal. It featured in three episodes of BBC coverage with each episode being watched by about 3 million viewers. All raising the profile of the charity.

At the school, the garden is used to teach pupils about the work of the charity, the people they support and the rich heritage of Myanmar. Students and staff see physical and mental health benefits by spending time in an attractive, green environment.