The London Square Chelsea Pensioners Garden

Working with the Royal Hospital Chelsea, home of the Chelsea Pensioners, London Square aims to reflect the 300-year-old heritage of “a home for soldiers broken by age and war.” The garden is a place for the Pensioners to share or to enjoy quiet reflection.

A woodland space, filled with striking trees offers a sheltered, accessible central space with seating upholstered in recycled Pensioners’ scarlet uniforms and a world map table creating an immersive, natural environment to encourage the Pensioners, their families and visiting veterans to come together away from public view. 

Vibrant planting to the garden boundaries reflects the ceremonial life of the Pensioners, with calmer and more textural planting to the centre capturing their more private moments.
 

At a glance

Who would use this garden?
The Chelsea Pensioners, their families and visiting veterans.
Where is the garden set?
The garden is set in part of the Royal Hospital Chelsea grounds, accessible to visitors and the Chelsea Pensioners.
Who or what is the design inspiration for the garden?
The design is inspired by the joining of hands when Pensioners and their guests come together. Shaking hands is a way of connecting with new people. Several sketches were created of linked hands and were used to shape the layout. The shape of the circular entrance and exit path allows visitors to come together and meet in the central social space.
 

Garden legacy:

The garden is being relocated to the Prince of Wales Court in the grounds of the Royal Hospital.