Centred around plants: An innovative garden centre in the Channel Islands challenges orthodox design, says Gavin McEwan

摘要

The idea seems so compelling that one wonders why no one thought of it before. But someone did. Blue Diamond managing director Alan Roper has been pursuing his vision of a planteria "in the round" for 15 years, but only now is it taking shape at the company's site in Le Friquet, Guernsey. Before joining Blue Diamond 10 years ago, Roper had sought to build something similar at Nailsworth in the Chilterns, but conditions dictated a more amphitheatre-like structure instead.