The award competition recognizes designs from around the world in various architectural categories such as interior design and landscape design.

“We wanted to do something from the heart that felt right” in building the Monet-inspired garden, said Paul MacIntyre, vice-president of Lai Hotels Properties Ltd.

“We could have done other things with the property, but we built a garden and now our guests in the local community share and enjoy it daily.”

Formally known as The Gardens at Pillar and Post, the six-acre facility on John Street West, across from the hotel, opened to the public in the summer of 2020.

The design includes a replica of Monet’s classic lily pond, its iconic Japanese green bridge and a main promenade lined with the classic Monet rose archways.

It also features a number of event spaces, including three wedding ceremony sites, a rustic barn reception venue, the OutPost café and in winter, a skating rink.

Everyone who was part of the process was ecstatic to see that their hard work and dedication recognized on such a large scale.

“This is obviously a great honour for us to win this international award, and it’s also something that we’re happy to share with the rest of the world,” said Haig Seferian, who was the lead designer on the project.

What makes the gardens so special and unique to Niagara-on-the-Lake is that they are located in the middle of a recreational area that invites anyone to enjoy, said MacIntyre.

“It was an absolutely amazing project that I was proud to be a part of. It was a great collaborative team,” he said.

Seferian added, “It had to be a well-oiled machine in order for it to be the garden it is today.”

“I’ve made sure that everyone is mentioned on the award because everyone had a part in winning it.”

The gardens are open to the public daily from 9 a.m.