Visionary Environments: Palaces, Towers and Secret Gardens

Some outsider art is too big to hang on a wall. A visionary environment is a place, usually a home, garden or plot of land, that one person has transformed into a single work of art. Most were built slowly and alone, from stones, scrap, broken crockery and cement, by people with no training in art or architecture.

These places are fragile. Many have been demolished, sold off or left to decay when their makers died. The ones that survive often owe their existence to neighbours and campaigners who fought to save them.

What this topic covers

• The idea: what makes a visionary environment, and the famous examples around the world.
• Three landmarks: Facteur Cheval's Palais Idéal in France, Simon Rodia's Watts Towers in Los Angeles, and Nek Chand's Rock Garden in Chandigarh.
• Britain: Ron's Place in Birkenhead, the first outsider art environment listed in the UK, plus the Brighton Flint Grotto, the Cement Menagerie and Gerry's Pompeii.

Planning a visit? Our where to see directory lists environments you can visit.