desert INK

We loved exploring the Nine Elms district during our recent trip to London. 🔆 This highly desirable neighbourhood demonstrates how the revenues generated by dense urban development can fund high-quality, purposeful public spaces at ground level. Urban density, when thoughtfully planned, can be a winning formula for residents, local businesses, developers, and the environment. #london #nineelms #desertINK

Garrick's recent trip to Salzburg, Austria offered a glimpse into a city where landscape, architecture and public life come together effortlessly. 🌿 From the medieval streets and baroque façades of the Altstadt to intimate parks and plazas framed by the dramatic Eastern Alps, every walk revealed another layer of the city. A hike to Fortress Hohensalzburg and a stroll to the iconic Von Trapp mansion from The Sound of Music completed the experience. A reminder that great cities are shaped as much by their landscapes as they are by their buildings.

Now emerging on site in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Perforated weathered steel forms reinterpret the traditional mashrabiya, filtering the harsh desert sun while creating a sequence of framed views and gathering spaces. Gabion walls, filled with locally sourced stone, anchor the structure within the landscape and reinforce its connection to place. #desertINK #saudiarabia #gabionwall #sitework #mashrabiya

Our Managing Director, Duncan Denley, was invited to join the panel discussion ‘The Future of Seafront Being,’ hosted by Shamal at Dubai Harbour. It was a pleasure to be part of a conversation that brought together diverse perspectives on the future of waterfront living. We always value opportunities to exchange ideas, learn from others, and contribute to discussions that help shape more meaningful places. Thank you to Shamal Holding for the invitation and for hosting such an engaging discussion. Here's a glimpse into the event. #desertINK DUBAI HARBOUR #shamal #seafrontbeing

The adobe structures in the ‘Silent No More’ garden created a wonderful cocoon-like shelter at the heart of the space. Providing both visual interest and a sense of enclosure, they beautifully framed the garden’s rich planting palette. As we conclude our Chelsea Flower Show series, we reflect on the many ways in which landscape and architecture can come together to create meaningful outdoor experiences. #rhschelseaflowershow #silentnomore #desertINK

The horizontal planes of the pavilion in the ‘Breathing Space’ garden really resonated with us. Hovering effortlessly above undulating mounded earth and perforated by a signature tree, the central platform provides a brilliant space to enjoy being outdoors. 🌿 #rhschelseaflowershow #desertINK #breathingspace

A pleasure to be part of this timely conversation with Shamal on the future of seafront living. Thoughtful landscape design can strengthen our connection to the sea, creating waterfronts that are ecologically responsive, inviting and enduring.

The ‘Flourish in the City’ garden showcased the timeless appeal of patinated copper. Set against crushed beige gravel and Portland stone, its warm tones created a beautifully restrained material palette. #rhschelseaflowershow #flourishinthecity #desertINK

The ‘A Seed in Time’ garden reminded us of the value of creating pavilions that provide shelter from the elements and help orientate a space. These outdoor rooms blur the boundaries between architecture and landscape, allowing us to extend the time we spend comfortably outdoors. | RHS Chelsea Flower Show, desert INK, A Seed in Time |

Kicking off our Chelsea Highlights series with some beautiful desert tones in ‘Journey Beyond the Tracks’, a suburban garden inspired by the iconic Indian Pacific rail journey across Australia. We loved the use of ochre-coloured eco-concrete and crushed stone, creating a warm and evocative material palette. #rhschelsea #journeybeyondthetracks #indianpacific #chelseaflowershow #desertINK