Mandala Moon Gate Garden – Silver Gilt & People’s Choice
Mandala Featured in Backyard Creative 2017
An award-winning garden centred on geometry and movement, using the moon gate to frame experience and guide spatial flow.
Published
February 27, 2026
By
By: Paal Grant
Summary
Mandala featured in Backyard Creative Australian Living Magazine, Edition 15.1 (2017). An award-winning show garden built around a sculptural moon gate, using geometry, repetition and movement to shape how visitors experience the space.
Table Of Contents
Publication: Backyard Creative Australian Living Magazine | Edition 15.1 – 2017
Photographer: Paal Grant Designs & Huis Ten Bosh
The Mandala Moon Gate Garden was featured in Backyard Creative Australian Living Magazine (Edition 15.1, 2017), following its Silver Gilt and People’s Choice awards at the 2016 Gardening World Cup in Nagasaki, Japan. The design draws on the idea of mandala as a symbol of unity and balance, using strong geometry and symmetry to create a space that both centres and draws people inward.
A circular moon gate forms the key threshold, guiding movement through the garden toward a central focal point, with seating and water elements arranged in a balanced composition. Despite challenging build conditions during the event, the project was delivered with precision, resulting in a landscape that feels both sculptural and welcoming, grounded in form, experience, and connection.