SECTION-PERSPECTIVE | Trees on the slopes are limbed low—to 7'—and lend a sense of compression in contrast to the hilltop clearing; variations in tree species and configuration also contribute different qualities and densities of darkness on the hill slopes.
SCHEMATIC PLAN | Three species of trees, spaced irregularly, register concentric circles (dashed in red) emanating from the hilltop clearing.
PAVING SCHEME + SEASONALITY | Four configurations of slate paving stones—dispersed, abutting, overlapping, and stacked—correspond to slope.
PLANT PALETTE | The garden features white flowers year-round, creating a starry ground plane no matter the season; flowers are arranged here in chronological order of bloom, beginning in January.
ATMOSPHERIC IDEOGRAM | Mixed media drawing (charcoal, conte crayon, collage) of view from grove into the clearing at the top of the hill.
PRECEDENTS + HISTORIC RESEARCH | The longstanding relationship between gardens and darkness has manifested through scientific studies (Darwin's observations of plants during day vs. night) and built projects: the moon-viewing platform at Ginkaku, Versailles as a site for firework displays, and the Sissinghurst Moon Garden, full of white blooms. The rightmost image is from Maya Deren's film, In the Very Eye of Night, an exploration of movement through darkness.
CONCEPTUAL VIDEO | This exploration of night garden "essence" combines stop-motion, shadow experiments, and video collage.
