GARDEN DESIGN
WHAT THE MODERN GARDEN LOOKS LIKE TODAY, ACCORDING TO AWARD-WINNING DESIGNERS
DESIGN IDEAS FROM THE WINNERS OF THE SOCIETY OF GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS( SGLD) AWARDS.... FOR EVERY SIZE OF GARDEN
Garden by Adolfo Harrison MSGLD. Photo: Mischa Haller
Spanning intimate urban gardens and ambitious public spaces, the 2026 SGLD Award winners offer a snapshot of how garden design is evolving. The award-winning projects highlight the new thinking shaping outdoor spaces today— and provide clear inspiration for homeowners looking to create gardens that are stylish, practical and ready for the challenges ahead.
1. Thermal Design: Gardens That Feels Fresh Even in Heat
Garden by Adolfo Harrison MSGLD. Photo: Mischa Haller
Why it’ s new: Designers are moving beyond bold, showy colours and using restrained greens, soft neutrals, and natural materials to make gardens feel visually and physically cooler— an aesthetic response to hotter summers and climate change. Many winning gardens played with temperature perception— cool stone, warm timber, calming green planting combinations or silvery foliage— to create spaces that feel refreshing and calm.
Designer tip: Dial back strong colours and focus on foliage, texture, and pale materials. Pair light-coloured stone or paving with soft, silvery plants to make small patios and terraces feel cooler and more inviting.
2. Immersive Thresholds
Garden by Barbara Samitier MSGLD of Moss Studio. Photo: Annaick
Garden by Kristina Clode MSGLD. Photo Annaick Guitteny
Why it’ s new: The boundary between patio and garden is disappearing. Designers are letting plants spill across steps, terraces, and walls so that entering the garden feels like stepping into greenery rather than onto hard paving. Draping climbers, grasses, and shrubs over edges softens hardscape and visually enlarges the space.
Designer tip: Plant right up to paths, doors, and steps— just a narrow strip of greenery or overhanging plants can transform how your garden feels from inside the house.
3. Beyond Paving: Hardscapes that Beautify and Protect
Garden by Tomoko Kawauchi MSGLD at Charlotte Rowe Garden Design.
Why it’ s new: Hard landscaping is no longer just a backdrop. Designers are combining aesthetics with climate-smart functionality, using permeable paving, floating terraces, sand-swept joints, and engineered sub-bases to reduce flooding, protect roots, and enhance resilience. These gardens show that carefully detailed hardscape can blend seamlessly with planting, creating spaces that are both visually stunning and environmentally responsible.
Designer tips: Let water drain naturally: Opt for permeable paving, gravel paths, or sand-swept joints to reduce puddles and protect plant roots.
Mix materials for impact: Combine stone, timber, or gravel with lush planting to create texture, depth, and a garden that’ s visually interesting year-round.
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