CHIJMES

Rejuvenation of a historic site, once a Convent, into a charming, but festive, garden precinct

The original Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus was transformed by beautiful restoration in 1996. This included a new landscape for the entire grounds, garden quadrangles and a sunken courtyard, under the supervision of Landscape Architect Henry Steed, then working for the Clouston group.

This historic and charming complex has more recently been transformed by Perennial Holdings in 2012, with Chijmes designed to become an iconic lifestyle destination. Today, its upgraded elegant Gothic and Italian renaissance architecture, lush courtyards, and tranquil ambiance provide a picturesque setting for dining, shopping, and entertainment. This time, Henry was back with his Landscape Company ICN Design. The challenge was to retain the powerful historic ambience and to keep the spiritual mood cast by the elegance of the lovingly renovated buildings, optimising the attractions for visitors. The new model includes more restaurants and bars with a focus on the chapel building, often the scene of weddings. The new project was different but kept the best of the original renovation, with established trees retained plus numerous new ones, different water features, colourful planting and classic paving, all to make a truly memorable venue.

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