A garden designed to function as a green, food producing, tranquil space and for hosting cultural and social activities.
The site is the former walled garden of a restored merchant’s house overlooking Kirkcaldy’s harbour and the water of the Firth of Forth on the east coast of Scotland. One of the oldest buildings in the town and dating back to at least the 1590’s, the house was home to mariners and merchants.
Located in a secluded and long-empty position in the centre of the town this project is an important element of the Kirkcaldy Riggs Townscape Heritage Initiative in an area that was designated for rejuvenation.
On reopening, the Merchant’s House in 2007 became occupied by small businesses working in the cultural sector, artists, craftspeople and designers and Kirkcaldy Tourist Information Centre.
The new garden was designed by Tracy & Edwin, advised by landscape architect John Richards, around the idea of islands of different activities. These islands are an events podium, allotments, a table and a reflective area, all sited in green space. The extremely old stone walls were retained and new planting on their surfaces was introduced in response to the existing wild vegetation of creepers and succulents.
Referring to its historical function as a productive garden, vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit are produced in organic allotments, managed by the group Friends of the Garden.
The garden was designed, and made in 2007, to function for local users on a daily basis as a green pleasure site and also to platform cultural and social activities.
Events related to the contemporary and historical role of food production, to cooking and to eating can take place around a large, permanently sited table.
The Kirkcaldy Riggs Gardens Project was supported by the National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council with funding from Fife Council, Scottish Enterprise Fife, Scottish Executive (Quality of Life) and BSkyB.