A productive week! We managed to find all the stone we need for the show, mosses Lichens and all. I would just like to say a massive thankyou to David Taylor for not only supplying us with the stone, but also for letting me pinch some perfect stone from an existing wall at his farm (and helping to gather it). I promise to re-build it after the show David!! Also thanks to Mum and John for helping with the search for aged branches in their woodland.

Cameron, Ben, Steve Legend and myself are off on Thursday for the build so its just a matter of stacking and loading 10 tons of stone without scratching or knocking any life off it. The Devon boys are off to the big smoke!!

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Shows-Events/RHS-Chelsea-Flower-Show/2011/Gardens/A-to-Z/Hae-woo-so-Emptying-Ones-Mind

Above is a link to the RHS Chelsea site. Jihae travelled down to Devon a couple of weeks ago with Dan Flynn to look at stone for the show. The whole process is being filmed for Korean TV so thats going to make the build interesting! Were trying to achieve the look of a wall thats existed for years with mosses and Lichens, so its going to be a challenge.
Below is an article about the garden and an interview with Jihae.



Haewooso Garden at Chelsea Flower Show- First Korean Garden to receive commission by the RHS April 13th, 2011 at 8:47 am |

Emptying the Body and Mind Whilst Fortifying the Spirit – How a Traditional Korean Toilet Made it to Chelsea Flower Show 2011

An outdoor Oriental latrine is to be the unconventional centre piece of a Korean garden in this year’s 2011 Chelsea Flower Show. This is also the first time that Korea has ever been represented in the show and this unique installation offers not only aesthetically pleasing designs and healing flora but also poses some deeper philosophical questions.

Located in the Artisan Garden The Hae-Woo-So (Emptying One’s Mind: Traditional Korean Toilet) design was created by artist Jihae Hwang who wanted to present a spiritual oasis where you can free yourself of anxious thoughts, re-attune the body and attain peace.

Taking centre stage is a traditional latrine which is an attractive wooden structure at the end of a path flanked with plants of subtle hues chosen for their healing qualities.

The entrance door is low at 1.2m high with the intention that people how to bow and lean forward to go inside – thus humbling oneself.

After the “call of nature” any human waste is designed to be recycled into fertilizer.

The idea of being “at one” with nature both physically and psychically is aided by Korean white dandelion (known for cancer prevention), Miss Kim lilac, thyme and mugwort.

Around the hut are plants which purify the air with plantain good for liver, kidneys and bladder and Korean ginseng to protect the organs and for calming the nerves. Ivy, which the designer says is the most popular plant to take into outer space for its air purifying quality, is also thoughtfully present.

“I want the audience to focus on the external beauty of the garden whilst also imagining themselves walking in the garden concentrating on what is going on within themselves,” says the designer, via an interpreter.

“I was motivated to present such an idea based on my interest in oriental philosophy and humanism. I wanted to share this new idea from the East and add the garden to Chelsea’s high and wide range of quality ideas”,” says Jihae Hwang, who had worked in Korea as an environmental artist for the past 10 years.

Outside the toilet is a granite bowl which acts as both a fountain, wash basin and bidet.

The Korean entry was 3 years in the design and making and far from being a “mind emptying” concept it is more likely to be a highly thought-provoking one amongst the avid visitors to this most colourful social event.

As the designer says – “I believe that the Earth smiles through flowers. Flowers are the smiles of the Earth and I want to people to experience this through my garden.”