At the 2025 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, renowned landscape designer Christian Jenkins presented Yutori—a tranquil, Japanese-inspired wellness garden that earned him a Silver Award.
Rooted in the idea of stillness and spaciousness, Yutori invited visitors to slow down, breathe deeply, and simply be — right in the heart of Melbourne’s bustling city.
A Garden Rooted in Japanese Design and Philosophy
The name Yutori means “spaciousness” in Japanese, and Christian brought this concept to life through a thoughtful composition of natural materials and quiet moments. “Japanese gardens are one of my favourite artistic mediums,” he shared. “The concept of wellness is deeply ingrained, and I find it easily translatable into my work.”
Intentional Design, Precise Execution
Christian dedicated a month to detailed planning, ensuring that every decision was intentional and executable for the team within the nine-day build window permitted by the show. The result was a garden that felt effortless—but behind the scenes, it was a testament to precise coordination, craftsmanship, and artistic focus.
The garden’s success lay in its thoughtful layering of natural elements: flowing water, sculptural rocks, a carefully raked river sand that served as a contemplative void, and a winding stone path designed to encourage slow, mindful movement.
The river sand played a central role. It acted as both a visual and philosophical anchor, introducing a deliberate sense of void, giving the garden room to breathe and inviting visitors to create that same mental spaciousness within themselves.
Another key feature was the inclusion of a tiny home and back fence — not just as a design element, but as a statement. “The home embodied the idea that we can actually live within the garden, not just beside it. The fence helped frame and enclose the space, which gave it a sense of intimacy.” said Christian.
The home offered a seamless indoor-outdoor transition, thanks in part to NewTechWood’s Avenue decking in Antique, which provided a refined aesthetic and low-maintenance outdoor surface that integrated beautifully into the garden’s aesthetic. The decking created a gentle flow between the indoor and outdoor elements of the space. It extended the concept of Yutori by offering a place to sit, relax, and take in the surroundings—capturing that moment of stillness the garden was designed to encourage.
Looking Ahead to the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2026
With the 2025 show wrapped, Christian already has his eyes on next year’s canvas. “I’m thinking of blending tropical and Japanese elements — something completely different, but still rooted in the idea of wellness and escape.”
Are you an architect, designer, builder, or landscaper working on your next project? Contact our team today and explore how NewTechWood’s decking and cladding range can elevate your design.