Rock Garden
royal botanical gardens, hamilton
Rock Garden is a stunning horticultural gem located within the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton. It’s a renowned landmark featuring beautiful gardens, rock formations, waterfalls, and various plant species. With meticulously themed garden areas, including alpine, woodland, perennial, and rose gardens, the Rock Garden offers visitors an immersive experience celebrating biodiversity and natural landscapes.
KDA undertook a comprehensive approach to enhance and enrich the visitor experience at Rock Garden. Through thoughtful design and the use of natural materials, KDA created a wayfinding master plan and bilingual signage program that organically and seamlessly complement Rock Gardens’ environs, provide unassisted navigation, and reflect the core attributes and values in the RBG’s visitor experience.
To address the functional needs and future expansions of the RBG, KDA’s overall strategy emphasized clear communication in a multicultural environment by employing custom-designed pictograms, orientation graphics, colours, and visual cues to aid visitors. Additionally, the program promoted accessible paths, walkways, and inclusivity through AODA compliance.
KDA’s prominent gateway features contribute to an elevated ‘sense of arrival’ and enriches the overall visitor experience.
inspiration from the garden
Immersed in the essence of Rock Garden’s botanical beauty, KDA crafted a distinctive signage program that draws inspiration from the very heart of horticulture—the planting beds. The open frame, elegantly envelops each sign, paying homage to the garden’s horticultural significance. This thoughtful nod encapsulates not just a visual aesthetic but a narrative that intertwines the design with the inherent natural setting of the Rock Garden. Each sign becomes a testament to the organic artistry of the landscape, creating an inviting and harmonious visual language that mirrors the Garden’s own captivating allure.
Updated Brand, Mindful Approach
To emphasize the essence of RBG, KDA updated the original logo to accentuate the word ‘Garden.’ Presented in both English and French, a distinct typographic branding system was developed to elevate and identify each individual garden and trail within RBG’s 2,400-acre expanse. This strategic branding approach was consistently applied throughout Rock Garden, resulting in mindful signage that prominently highlights the word ‘Rock’.
Celebrating Generosity
KDA collaborated with the RBC donorship division to celebrate and proudly present the names of the Centre’s generous donors, David Braley & Nancy Gordon.
Consistent Language
KDA was also responsible for providing signage and wayfinding throughout the Visitors Centre. Acting as a natural backdrop to the gardens and offering spectacular views, KDA ensured that the Centre’s signage program maintained a consistent language and approach akin to that seen throughout the garden itself. This comprehensive and sensitive approach allowed for a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor environments, unifying the visitor experience throughout.
exploration for everyone
To ensure visitors navigate Rock Gardens with ease and accessibility, KDA strategically installed ‘You are Here’ orientation maps at key points along paths and walkways. These maps not only provide a comprehensive view of the entire site but also highlight key destinations and amenities, promoting exploration and enticing return visits. Moreover, these maps enhance communication about all RBG programs and garden areas, further improving visitor experience and understanding of the site’s offerings.
The extensive experience in branding and wayfinding in urban park and trail environments was evident in the creation of a meaningful design language that captures the unique brand character of Rock Garden.
