Zoned garden for entertaining
Location:
Site:
Brief:
To design a garden to compliment the traditional yet contemporary house on an exclusive gated estate. A busy family of 4 required different seating areas, cooking, storage and a level area for kids to play.
Challenges:
Large central Acacia and 2nd runner from this root – turned full sized tree, at the rear of the garden. Various different levels due to roots and general sloping nature of plot and a large imposing brick wall.
Design Response:
Firstly we needed to find a solution to the sloping lawn / compacted bit of root bound, knackered grass. And create some level space to enable the family to enjoy the garden. And we did this by proposing a terraced garden with 3 different level areas retained with oak sleepers. It required an extensive dig out (by hand) but was the only solution. And by creating large planting beds at the base of each tree, with carefully considered plant choice and automated irrigation system.
We sought to create an indoor out feel with the house with a complimentary tiling scheme creating a dining area and lounge seating area adjoining the house’s ground floor. Paths lead to a corner bespoke fire pit area and to the back of the garden where an outdoor home office was built.
Materials were chosen carefully. The modernity of integrated seating and bespoke firepit, juxtaposed with the backdrop of the beautiful tall existing brick wall.
Steps and levels were contained with oak sleepers, embracing the natural look required to blend modern and existing. The step up to a second level led to a beautiful, poured concrete and cedar integrated BBQ station with stainless steel sink, lighting, concrete worktops and inbuilt Fire Magic charcoal burner with tiled flue.
The path continued down past the tree, underplanted with shade tolerant perennials.
Feature pots, planted with Pittosporum and Ilex balls, drew your eye along this pathline, growing out of the clipped form of Euonymous “Green Spider”
At the end of this path, the route dog legged past an outdoor studio, sunk into the ground, with steps and cedar batoning leading out to the rear garden entrance.
Extensive lighting, irrigation and feature planting including 2 beautiful Amelanchier Lamarckii with fairy lights and feature multi stem Photinia punctuate the garden at strategic points, working hard to create the right shapes and balance in the garden and changing the awkward feeling the site initially gave off.
Artificial grass was installed. Required due to the impact of tree roots and shade.
The feature seating area, with bench appearing to “float” of the existing brick wall combines recycled composite decking with porcelain paving, straightening eyelines and angles.
And a central firepit with concrete surround designed and built to ensure many evenings are spent lounging back on the weather proof cushions of the bench, which are bespoke made with off the shelf scatter cushions. A perfect spot to eating BBQ, resting and relax, and enjoy time with the family, late into the night.
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