Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK joined forces with urban gardening pioneers, The Edible Bus Stop, to create a striking installation inspired by the 2011 London riots for the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show.
The garden - Riot of Colour - was an interpretation of the after effects of the rioting, depicting a scene where nature has reclaimed and softened a brutal urban landscape.
Devised by landscape architect Will Sandy, the installation included areas of wild planting and bright colours set against stark post-apocalyptic artefacts and a strip of hard landscaping which was donated and installed by Lafarge and its partner company, Aggregates Direct.
The paving itself was unique for the project, as it utilised Lafarge’s new Aggneo Path product - a premium high-performance construction material primarily made from recycled and waste aggregates.
Designed to reach the same consistent quality and performance levels in application as those made from primary or virgin aggregates, Aggneo Path met Will’s vision of finding innovative ways to utilise industrial by-products in a sustainable way.
He explained: “As part of the overall project we were really keen to explore the use of recycled and reclaimed materials. Aggneo Path fits really well within this ethos. It allowed the design to encompass the juxtaposition of using high-end aesthetics at lower end budgets to create designs that promote harmonious community spaces, demonstrating that good design is not socially exclusive.
“The Lafarge team have been really great at advising us on all the technical specifications for the Aggneo Path product - holding off the installation until the last minute to make sure the product looked its best for the show and coming up with clever ways to create planting areas within the surface. The Aggneo product is new to Lafarge, so it has been really enjoyable working with them to discover the real design potential the product has.”
The installation took three weeks to build with garden and landscaping gravel specialists Aggregates Direct, supplying sub-base, sharp sand and ballast to prepare for the laying of the Aggneo Path shortly before the show commenced.