Designed around the concept of working from home, a functional modern office is integrated into an urban garden setting at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

A strange theme one might think for the charity, Help the Aged garden at this year's show. However, with the changing face of society, particularly working lifestyles, many employers are aware that with an ageing population, fewer young people will be joining the workforce and that it is becoming more important to retain older staff. One way to achieve this is to enable 'home working'.

The SoHo garden (small office, home office) designed by Mark Gregory of the award-winning Design and Build and with interiors styled by Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen, marks 18 years at the Chelsea Flower Show for the Charity.

The garden offers a restful working environment with a careful balance of herbaceous perennials, grasses, ferns and shrubs in subtle colours of greens, purples, silvers and mauves. A pleached hedge of Acer campestre 'Elsrijk (field maple - a first for Chelsea) screens the office from its neighbours.

The office is framed in English green oak. In front of it lies a large still pool so the office appears to float on the water, with purbeck stone stepping-stones providing access.

The office has a living 'green' roof planted with Sedum varieties, softening the roofline and environmentally friendly for water retention and as habitat for insects.

The inside of the office uses state of the art communication and technology, including wireless systems so you can even work and send communications while sitting in the garden.

An image of the office and garden can be seen at www.helptheaged.org.uk

The Chelsea Flower Show is the world's most popular and renowned flower show. The best in gardening and horticulture is brought together in one place for one week in May. This year's show runs from 20 - 23 May 2003 and tickets can be purchased on line at www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea/index.asp