Since the very beginning of my long career, although based in the UK, I have been fortunate to work on projects in different parts of the world, and particularly in continental Europe. Maybe unsurprisingly, my Tuscan roots have always drawn me towards the landscapes and plants of southern Europe; working internationally has provided the opportunity to explore different climates, cultures, materials and approaches to garden-making.
For this talk, I will discuss three pivotal Mediterranean projects in Provence, Italy and Greece, exploring the particular challenges and conditions of making gardens abroad. Alongside design and horticultural considerations, I will also discuss how collaborating with artists, as well as local artisans and craftsmen, to incorporate sculpture and other artefacts can instil a sense of place and identity in a new landscape.
The three projects offer different settings and approaches to try and illustrate the importance of responding to the ‘genius loci’ and bringing together land, vegetation, art and craftsmanship to make gardens that feel appropriate and enduring.
About Tommaso
Tommaso del Buono, CMLI FSGLD, left his native Italy in the 80’s to study at the University of Greenwich. After completing his studies in 1987 he worked in London for different practices and, after a 3 year stint at Michael Hopkins and Partners, he joined Arabella Lennox-Boyd’s practice where, in the course of a 10 year long collaboration, he was involved in a wide range of projects both in the UK and abroad.
He set up his first practice ‘del Buono Gazerwitz’ in 2000 and is nowadays the sole principal of TdB Studio, with offices in London and his hometown, Florence, where he spends much of his time.
2008 saw the creation of a first Show Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show; ‘Summer Solstice’ for sponsor Daylesford Organic, awarded a Silver Gilt Medal, whilst in 2014 he was awarded a Gold Medal for his second Chelsea garden created this time for the Daily Telegraph; he has also twice been the recipient of the SGLD’s ‘Grand Award’, in 2016 and 2022 for his projects “A Château in Provence", and "Davines Village, Parma" respectively.
His work has been widely published in magazines and books both in the UK and abroad; having been made a Fellow of the Society in 2023 he has been included in House & Garden "Top 50 Garden and Landscape Designers" for the last 10 years.
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