THE RETURN OF TERRACE SEASON
The artist behind our terraces on shaping the spaces that come into their own this time of year.
We like to think our terraces are some of the best in the city. But what you might not realise is that behind them is an artist. We caught up with Rosalind Davis, who has been shaping the gardens across Daisy Green since 2020, to talk about how our spaces come together, from the early days at Bondi to the terraces you’ll find across London today.
“I first started working with Daisy Green in 2020, creating the gardens for Bondi in Paddington, where we have a beautiful terrace by the canal. It’s a really lush space.
Prue asked me to blend my artistic vision with horticultural know-how. Bondi was ambitious, Daisy Green’s biggest site at the time, and the first with a proper garden, with metres of space inside and out to consider.
Justin Hibbs designed the external steel planters, inspired by the architecture of the Brunel Building, so everything feels considered and connected to the surroundings. Inside and out, the planting is layered and full, tropical greenery, evergreen structure, fatsias and palms among others.
For me, gardening is about creating a living artwork. I approach it in the same way I do my other work as an artist and curator, thinking about colour, texture, pattern and how a space feels to spend time in. It’s creative, but also grounding. Even just looking at a garden has a positive effect.
Now, 18 sites on, there are terraces across the city to enjoy, from Paradise Green in the City to Holland Park Café. Each one is different, shaped by its setting and the people who spend time there, different spaces and communities all enjoying the fruits of our labour.”
Rosalind Davis
Artist, Curator, Teacher, Writer and Designer.
@rosalindnldavis