On Tuesday, 2nd June, it was a real treat for 32 members of The Aldersbrook Horticultural Society to visit The Aga Khan Centre. The rain cleared and problems with the tube train strike were largely avoided as we arrived at the Centre: a haven of peace and tranquility close to the Coal Drops Yard area of Kings Cross.  

The building is one of the more distinctive contemporary buildings in King’s Cross because it blends modern Japanese minimalism with references to Islamic architectural traditions.  Our guides provided much information for us about the nature of the building, its gardens and its purpose.

Designed by the celebrated Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, the building was conceived as a place for education, research, and cultural exchange focused on Muslim civilisations.  The building is clad in pale limestone, echoing London’s traditional Portland stone architecture while standing out against the darker brick warehouses and industrial heritage of King’s Cross. The architectural heart of the building is a nine-storey glazed atrium. This space is inspired by the courtyards found in traditional Islamic architecture.  The atrium brings daylight deep into the building and creates visual connections between floors. 

A recurring eight-pointed star motif appears throughout the building in screens, metalwork, glazing patterns, and garden details. This geometric pattern is common in Islamic art and architecture. As sunlight moves across the building, these patterns cast intricate shadows into the interior, making light itself part of the architectural experience. 

One of the building’s most unusual features is its series of terraces, courtyards, and roof gardens distributed up the building.  Water, shade, geometric layouts, and contemplative spaces are recurring themes.  The movement and sound of water in fountains, small waterfalls and pools brought particular pleasure.

The group was able to stand on a terrace high up the building looking south towards the many familiar buildings of the London skyline set against – by then – a picture book blue sky with scudding white clouds.  It was breathtaking.

Members were enthralled.  One commented that the experience was impactful, admiring the style of gardening and the artwork.  Another delighted in standing in a rear courtyard, looking out onto The Jellicoe Gardens at the rear of the building, listening to the chattering of goldfinches.

We are most grateful to The Aga Khan Centre for sharing the beauty of its building and gardens, and for enabling our visit.

Emma Clarke, a renowned garden designer of Islamic Gardens, gave a fascinating talk to Aldersbrook Horticultural Society at Tuesday’s May meeting. Emma has designed a number of Islamic gardens, including the garden at the Mosque in Cambridge and assisted in the design of the Carpet Garden at Highgrove.

The beautiful slides that illustrated her talk explained how Islamic gardens are designed and the spiritual principles that underlie them. In the Koran, there are many descriptions of the gardens of paradise. Islamic gardens are designed using several elements: water, shade, symmetry, enclosure; the relationship between the garden and its architecture; balance and harmony of the overall design; aromatic planting; and the importance and significance of trees.

A photo of the City of Cairo emphasised the lack of green and underlined the need for green spaces in cities. This was followed by beautiful slides of the architecture and planting of the Alhambra to show how important green spaces are. Green shade represents the symbolic protective nature of God and green provides rest and calm. Islamic gardens are divided into four symmetrical areas providing a sense of order, divided by water or pathways representing the four rivers of paradise. Slides of European monastic gardens laid out in squares showed a similarity with Islamic gardens – the squares giving rest and calm. As Emma said, religion should bind us together.

In Mediterranean, Asian and Middle Eastern countries, the importance of water is paramount, providing an oasis in the desert and irrigation to keep the planting green and lush. Water reminds us of our temporary being and the purifying quality of water can nurture us from within. A fountain can also be seen as representing a fire – the heart of the home. The symmetrical nature of Islamic gardens with four squares around a circle symbolises the earth (the squares) around the circle (heaven). As well as Islamic gardens following this pattern, some well-known English gardens such as Sissinghurst have similar patterns. Enclosure is represented by walls to give privacy and sanctuary – Emma talked about secret gardens like the walled garden at Rousham.

A slide of the Taj Mahal beautifully illustrated the relationship between the architecture of the building and the four-fold garden with water at the front. Other slides showed perfect examples of the balance and harmony of the overall design, with water as the supreme unifying factor, such as the Sultana garden. Emma gave examples of the sort of planting that is used in Islamic gardens – roses are particularly loved in Islam and white roses represent peace – peace from the world or peace from our internal thoughts. Trees are also very important– they remind us to look above and beyond – the upright verticality of the Cypress is a good example. Jacaranda and Date Palm, as well as fruit trees with blossom are often used.

Emma completed her fascinating talk by showing some slides of the Aga Khan Centre, which AHS members will be visiting on Tuesday 2 June – meeting outside at 6:15pm. Please email AHS by 17 May to let us know you’d like to come.