In the United Kingdom, a nation of flowers and gardens, the RHS Flower Show stands as the world's most prestigious horticultural festival. It is a stage that showcases not just simple beauty, but the philosophy, technology, and sustainability that a garden can embody. As the first Korean construction company to receive an official invitation to participate in the show, Hyundai E&C presented its landscape creation, 'Garden Whispers,' and became the first Korean builder to win a major award at the show. This garden, a visual expression of nature's rhythm, is a meaningful work that demonstrates how emotion and technology can be connected through the art of landscape architecture.

Wins Major Award at World-Renowned RHS Flower Show, a First for a Korean Construction Company

In July 2025, Hyundai E&C made its debut on the world stage of garden exhibitions, hosted by the UK's Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)—a first for any Korean construction company. At the RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire, England, Hyundai E&C, in collaboration with Professor Hyeyoung Choi of Sungkyunkwan University, created the show garden installation 'Garden Whispers,' which was awarded a prestigious Silver-Gilt medal.

Boasting a tradition spanning more than a century, the RHS Flower Show is the world's most authoritative garden festival. This year's event at Wentworth was held on a particularly meaningful stage: a historic stately home managed as part of the UK's national heritage.

On this distinguished stage, 'Garden Whispers' garnered attention as an emotive space that encompassed the essence of a garden, contemporary design, and the sustainability of future technologies and materials. This award is a symbolic moment, demonstrating that Hyundai E&C has secured a unique design language capable of engaging more deeply with the world through landscape architecture. It is also a milestone that has forged new possibilities for the Korean construction industry.

‘Garden Whispers,’ A Story Told by Nature

Hyundai E&C views landscape architecture as a 'Modern-scape,' where the urban cityscape and nature, technology and emotion, all harmonize. It is a space that overlays the texture of nature onto the structural order of the city, leaving a quiet yet distinct sensory impression. This is the direction Hyundai E&C pursues in its landscape architecture.

'Garden Whispers' is a space that fully embodies this philosophy. The narrative through which nature speaks to us is neither visible to the eye nor audible to the ear, yet we engage with it instinctively: the texture of a passing breeze, the light filtering through leaves, the shadows that move with time. This garden borrows the language of nature to engage with people on a deeply sensory level.

Erasing Boundaries, Leaving an Impression

Modern people live amidst straight lines, compartments, and clearly defined boundaries. But the language of nature—in the form of light and shadows, plants and air, and the pace of one's footsteps—approaches by slowly seeping in. 'Garden Whispers' aimed to capture this quiet, pervasive flow.

In this garden, spanning approximately 18m × 9m for a total area of 162m², there are no walls or fences. The circular pathway, which follows a gentle curve, and the constantly shifting views naturally create the boundaries of the space. Each of the three cozy rooms located throughout the garden embraces a different sentiment. The space at the northeast end is ideal for contemplation, with lush plantings and columns providing a natural shield from external views. As one moves toward the center, the perspective opens up, revealing a space perfectly optimized for relaxation.

At the southwest end, where sunlight is most abundant, visitors can quietly reflect upon the path they have just taken. The key element orchestrating the flow of the garden space is a series of approximately 500 white columns. These columns, with a diameter of 50mm and varying in height from 1.2m to 3.0m, masterfully guide or obscure sightlines, delicately adjusting the walker's pace and senses.

The circular shelter in the central area, composed of gracefully bent columns, functions not merely as a sunshade but as an integral device that orchestrates the spatial flow. The ground is layered with volcanic gravel, dark gray gravel, and white concrete over vegetation. The texture and sound change depending on where one walks, inducing an unconscious shift in sensory perception.

The boundaries between materials are rendered with flexible, curved finishes, allowing the gravel, plants, and concrete to form a single, seamless harmonious rhythm. During the day, light filters between the columns, and at night, polycarbonate lights within the columns gently envelop the space in a soft glow. This garden shifts its expressive countenance with the passage of the day, existing as a living space that breathes in unison with those who linger within.

A Narrative Nurtured with Flowers, ‘Garden Whispers’

'Garden Whispers' is a garden where each and every plant tells a story. Centered on herbaceous flowers that evolve with the rhythm of the seasons, plants of diverse textures and hues delicately trace the garden's contours.

Digitalis, great burnet, and wood avens conjure a soft, dreamlike atmosphere, while Echinacea, Russian sage, and bronze fennel add rich layers of diverse color. The purple tones of Eryngium and various grasses lend depth to the garden space, while ferns, thyme, and strawberry mint modulate the planting pace close to the ground, forming a soft, verdant floor. In this way, plants quietly bridge the senses between nature and people.

The process of bringing this vision to life was by no means simple. Amidst local conditions entirely different from those in Korea, the team personally scouted numerous farms to procure hundreds of herbaceous flowers. At times, they had to renegotiate with local garden centers when the freshness of pre-ordered flowers fell noticeably short of what was required. Although they faced a situation where some plantings had to be abandoned due to last-minute changes in import conditions, close communication with the construction team made it possible to achieve the final vision. The resulting 'Garden Whispers' is a space where diligence, time, sensation, and collaboration have truly bloomed.

Presenting the Future of Sustainable Gardens

‘Garden Whispers’ transcends the creation of a merely beautiful landscape. The critical question we faced was, “How can we realize this garden in a sustainable manner?”

The UK's characteristically unpredictable weather was a major concern from the outset. In a climate with more than 180 rainy days a year, flexibility in the construction schedule was essential; we therefore standardized the column installation method to maximize efficiency. The key structures—the steel columns and LED lighting—were prefabricated in Korea and transported. In a strategic move to showcase both the garden's future-oriented nature and the sustainability of construction materials, the pipes were crafted from recycled scaffolding and finished in white.

Sustainability through upcycling was also applied to other materials in the garden. In collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group, chairs were created by recycling plastic from end-of-life vehicle headlights, achieving a significant reduction in waste. By utilizing 3D printing technology with recycled plastic, we realized non-standard structures while minimizing material waste and dramatically reducing production time. In addition, the concrete pads forming the floors of the cozy rooms were embedded with plastic fragments from recycled cosmetic containers, maintaining durability while reducing environmental impact and enhancing aesthetic appeal.

'Garden Whispers' not only complied with the RHS's 'Sustainability Goals' but also presented a new possibility for gardens—one that does not simply imitate nature but evolves and endures like nature itself. It has become a pioneering example that offers a concrete vision for the future of the landscape industry.

MINI INTERVIEW

Choi Yeon-gil , Senior Manager, Housing Business Division, Hyundai E&C / Choi Hye-young, Professor, Sungkyunkwan University

Q. While working on 'Garden Whispers,' were there any memorable anecdotes or comments?

(Yeon-gil Choi) Erecting the columns was an immense challenge given the tight construction schedule. So much so that, in the early stages, an RHS manager visited several times and even offered encouragement, asking, “Can you really finish this?” But ironically, our team was the first to complete its work. It was thanks to the incredible focus and systematic preparation of our team members, who were immersed in their tasks for over 12 hours a day. The energy on site at the time was truly electrifying.

(Hye-young Choi) I vividly remember scouting various horticultural farms to source plants locally, and the moment when the UK and Korean teams worked in unison, getting drenched in the pouring rain to install the poles. When we drove in the 493rd and final pole, the crews from all the other gardens burst into cheers with us. The feedback that "Your garden is distinctly different from those commonly seen in the UK" and "It’s not a garden you can take in at a single glance from the outside, but rather a space where you experience a journey by walking through it" was particularly impactful.

Q. What is your personal favorite space or element?

(Yeon-gil Choi) For me, the cozy room in the northeast corner is the most precious space in the garden. You could say it is the most 'whisper-like' space of all. With its high density of columns and abundant plantings, you feel naturally shielded from any external gaze, yet because the central reflecting pond unfolds before you, it doesn't feel completely isolated. This curious balance of being 'protected yet open' is incredibly compelling.

(Hye-young Choi) I love every part of the garden, but I'm especially fond of the water feature. Sitting on the bench and watching the reflection of the trees in the water and the movement of the clouds brings such a sense of tranquility. The beautiful herbaceous flowers stretching beyond the water and the vertically rising poles further enhance the space's sense of completion.

Q. Was there any particularly memorable feedback or comments from the judges?

(Yeon-gil Choi) The reaction to the 'modern and trendy design, unlike anything seen in British gardens' was unforgettable. The fresh interest in a work that moved beyond traditional, plant-focused narratives to incorporate diverse technologies and materials was incredibly positive. It is indeed very encouraging that the design language we are pioneering is being so well-received in the UK, the very heartland of gardening.

(Hyeyoung Choi) Among the evaluation criteria were standards for 'how well the design intent was realized' and 'how strong the design is.' We received high praise, with the judges noting that it is extremely rare for a garden to receive full marks in both categories. I also distinctly remember a judge's comment that it was very inspiring, saying, “No entry has ever previously been awarded a Silver-Gilt for a debut in the Show Garden category.”