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Korean Traditional Garden awarded AIPH prize for best international garden at International Garden Expo Suncheon Bay, Korea, 2013

The Korean Traditional Garden has been awarded the AIPH Prize for best international garden at the Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo 2013.  Set in the hillside and encompassing three gardens (The Palace Garden, the Nobleman’s Garden and the Garden of Hope) in one the Korean Traditional Garden seeks to demonstrate harmony with the surrounding environment and detailed composition; two features of Korean garden tradition.  The garden includes beautiful pagodas alongside dramatic waterfalls and rare native plants like the Korean winter hazel.

Commenting on the winner AIPH Marketing Committee Chairman and Grand Jury member, Mr Shinya Wada, said “The Korean garden is truly outstanding.  Not only is the scale impressive but the story it tells about Korean life and traditions is fascinating for both Korean and international visitors.  The structures within the garden are built extremely well, doing justice to the skilful design that ensures the whole garden works so well in this magnificent location.”

The Expo, which had its closing ceremony on 20th October, has run for the last six months having hosted over 4.3 million visitors from Korea and around the world.  In addition to the 13 international gardens there were 34 further outdoor gardens and 25 gardens within the indoor area.

Winning the top prize from the Outdoor Gardens, as well as the overall top award for the expo, was the K Water Garden, produced by Korea’s water company K Water.  The garden dramatically shows how the earth changes as water demand goes up and supplies reduce.

Other winners:

  • Best Outdoor Designer Garden: ‘Korean Kitchen Garden’ by Atree
  • Best Outdoor Combined Garden: ‘Journey of Life’ garden by Andy Sturgeon (UK)
  • Best Outdoor City Garden: ‘The Garden of Seoul City’ by Seoul City
  • Best Outdoor Company Garden: ‘K Water Garden’ by K Water
  • Best Indoor International Garden: ‘French Touch Garden’ by Phytolab (France)
  • Best Indoor Domestic Garden: ‘Pure SU:M’ by Babo Art Design

 

AIPH is responsible for approving international horticultural exhibitions.  Marking the end of the Expo in Suncheon Bay, AIPH President Vic Krahn gave a speech to a crowd of over 10,000 people who had gathered for the grand finale.  Congratulating the organisers of the expo he told the crowds;“This expo exemplifies humanity’s need for plants and gardens but as an international expo it does even more.  It brings the nations of the world together to share horticultural traditions and to celebrate innovation.  Gardens give hope for the future and an international expo like this shares that hope with the world.

I know that the Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo has been important for both this city and all of Korea.  The legacy from the work done here will benefit generations of Suncheon citizens well into the future.

I feel honoured to be with you today as you look back over the past six months.  The memories you have created will last a lifetime and the legacy you leave will shape the future.  As this site starts its transformation into a new chapter we now look forwards. Well done and may the things that you have learned and experienced here at the 2013 International Garden Expo in Suncheon benefit your city, your nation and your personal lives for the future.”

Commenting on the conclusion of another exceptional Expo Tim Briercliffe, AIPH Secretary General, commented “Garden Expos like this expose literally millions of people to the world of gardens, gardening and horticulture.  What better way to promote plants than to invite the world to experience what plants can do?  Everyone who visited the Suncheon Bay expo will have left with a new appreciation of plants that they did not have before.  Organising such an exhibition is no small task but the results are outstanding.  It would be great to see many more countries following this example.”

2013_aiph_prize_presentation_suncheon_bay_korea

Award Presentation – Mr Doeke Faber (Chairman of the International Jury) and Mr Vic Krahn (AIPH President) presenting the AIPH prize money of 7500 euros and the AIPH trophy for the winning Korean Traditional Garden.

 

For details of the Korean Traditional Garden visit http://eng.2013expo.or.kr/?r=ENG&c=274/605&m=festivalmnm&front=view&type=CTS00700013&uid=31


Rachel Wakefield

Communications Executive and Associate Editor
United Kingdom

rachel.wakefield@aiph.org