This London garden design seeks to unify a large and unstructured family space, providing two distinct areas for dining and entertaining while retaining a child friendly aspect.

Flooring throughout will be in attractive, stylish and durable Travertine paving laid in a formal ‘grid’ pattern, chosen to echo that intended for use within the house (client to supply). The level of the existing patio adjoining the house will be lowered to bring the new larger patio level with the rest of the space. This patio will feature a 3m square area of soft Western Red Cedar decking, to provide contrast to, and break up, the expanse of white paving.

Two travertine pathways will traverse the length of the space, running either side of a large rectangular lawn, to join a second area of paving towards the back of the garden. Each pathway will be framed by tall and imposing arches, constructed from sturdy new railway sleepers, that lead one’s eye through the space to a second dining/entertaining area in the back third of the garden.

This area will comprise a further expanse of paving which steps up to raised area at the end of the garden. Featuring a covered conversation pit, this area will offer a sense of seclusion and shade. Consisting of railway sleeper walls with a Red Cedar floor, this slightly sunken (approx. 40cm) ‘pit’ will be edged with railway sleepers and feature a railway sleeper table large enough for drinks or an entire meal. The pit edge will serve as the seating, around which the client can place cushions for comfort. Enclosing this space will be a solid pergola-style structure, clad at either end and across the ceiling with Red Cedar boards and made water-proof with roofing felt to provide shelter on greyer days.

Lawn and paths will be bisected by an arresting bespoke walk-over water feature. This feature will comprise a long (6m), sunken metal rill edged with sunken railway sleepers, which will be covered with clear perspex where it cuts through the lawn and strong fibre glass grills at either end where it crosses the pathways. Two raised railway sleeper pools, one at either end of the rill, will gently pour water through the grills to the rill below, to imbue the space with the soporific sound of running water. This highly unusual, child-friendly feature will provide endless fascination for young and old alike, and is sure to be a talking point on any occasion.

Planting in the space will comprise evergreen shrubs and herbaceous perennials in red, blue and pink in beds along either side boundary, with tall bamboo providing screening and privacy across the back of the space.

The design will be complete with a comprehensive lighting scheme intended to allow continued use of the space when the sun goes down. The pergola structure will be illuminated with a host of large LED light fittings set into the ceiling, casting a gentle yet effective wash across the conversation pit below, while the pit itself will be defined with a set of smaller LED lights set into the railway sleeper sides. The garden user’s journey down the space will be guided by a series of 240 volt stainless steel down lighters installed on the inside of each post of the railway sleeper arches, turning each arch into a stunning nocturnal sculpture. Bright submersible pond lights positioned under the grill at either end of the sunken rill will illuminate both the waterfalls and the main span of the rill, casting a subtle, undulating aura across the space. Finally, a series of low voltage spotlights set throughout the planting beds will cast a gentle glow throughout the garden, while serving to illuminate individual specimen plants.

Visit our website and portfolio by clicking here or call us at Earth Designs on 0208 521 9040 to speak to discuss the best way to proceed.

Sue got in touch with us to help her re-plan her cottage garden.  With dogs and chickens to accommodate as well as creating space for a kitchen garden and large lawn area, the space required careful planning to maximize its potential.  Sue is also a plant-loving gardener and wanted suggestions on the best places to show-off her flowers.

Earth Designs suggest that by maintaining sweeping curves in the main area of the garden, an informal relaxed style can be created to match with the rural location, and by making the lawn the central focus allows it to be expansive making best use of the south-west orientation. A new screen of willow hurdles covered in climbers would create a divide from the more functional spaces required to house kennels and chickens at the far end. With plenty of space for planting in the sunny areas around the lawn, a network of paths would link the garage, drive, house and kennel area.

If you like this garden, why not have a look at our portfolio, see if you would like to book a garden design consultation.  Alternatively contacting us by clicking here.

The brief-

The  clients , Jon and Karen, have lived at the property for over 10 years. Whilst they have done some minor landscaping with the addition of decking in the last few years, they feel that the space has more potential. They called Earth Designs as they felt no-one locally to them could deliver the sort of look they are after. They require the space to be multi functional with an adult area and somewhere for their son to have some fun. Whilst they don’t want the garden to be ‘kiddie-centric’ they do want Jazz, their son, to be able to engage with the garden. To this end they would like a ‘grow-your-own’ area. They currently have a out building in the garden which they use infrequently as a bar area. This also houses a running machine. Whilst they are keen to retain the option of having an indoor bar, the size of structure does not justify the amount of garden wasted, so we need to find an alternative solution. They prefer calm colours and plan to spend a lot of time in the garden.

Stumbled across the tumbleweed house this week. These are just so so cute. Can’t see me actually using one in a garden (although I would love one in my own), but as an exercise in great design on a small scale these fully functional mini-houses are second to none…

Each home has one room of no less than 120 square feet and all homes have the option for a 1st floor bedroom. They are available in the USA in kit form to assemble yourself (or have the house built for you by the manufacturer), or you can purchase the plans and build it from scratch (this is available worldwide.) When Matt gets a spare 5 minutes, and I can find a small quiet corner we aren’t using, I might just get him started on one…I would definitely opt for the Tarleton (pictured below) at 117 sq feet – it seems to have everything I need – though I’m not sure where Matt and the dog are going to sleep!  

Have a look for yourself and see what tickles your fancy at http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/

15/02/10

 Robert Cannon from New York has contacted us about his crazy garden sculptures. He creates very organic shapes from ‘Terraforms’ which consist of strong weather resistant ferro-cement or riveted metal plate filled with soil and planted.

Most of the pieces have built-in irrigation systems and some are on wheels. Like gardens they grow and naturally change with the seasons, reflecting the passage of time, the qualities of their environment, and the devotion of their stewards. He has been sculpting with these materials for the past 10 years and shows his work regularly in and around the New York City area in high end stores, galleries, parks, and museums.

The following chat has been pasted from Robert Cannon’s website:

Terraform – v.t.  (literally, “Earth-shaping”) the process of deliberate modification of the atmosphere, temperature, ecology, etc, of a planet, moon, or other body in order to make it habitable to humans. from Wikepedia

 Terraforms are sculptures built of man-made systems, earth, and plants. The concept of terraforming, stolen from the aerospace industry, is here brought to bear not on other worlds but on contemporary culture and consciousness.

 In the technology driven civilized world, where artificial reality, plastic surgery, genetic engineering, and pharmaceutically altered personalities are becoming ubiquitous, Terraforms seek to present a conscious and direct experience of material nature.  In the world that reduces nature to something pleasant to visit on holidays, Terraforms remove the shutters from the view of nature as the grand and terrifying source of life and reality. In a society un-tethered from the mothership of history and the environment Terraforms explore the increasingly complex relationship of figure and landscape, text and context. Terraforms say No More Dead Objects. 

 The ruins, myths, and personae of the ancient world as well as the more recently over-grown farms, abandoned factories, reservoirs, canals, tunnels, mills, ramping highways, and second growth forests, all set against the glacial terranes, heaving tectonic plates, eroding shores, and shifting seasons of the Earth serve as inspirations for these works.  These are the footprints of the dance between culture and nature.  They reveal the evolving yet cyclic story of human rising up and submission to nature, our will to free ourselves from her harsh laws, all the while working with nothing but.    

http://www.cannonsculpture.net/

28 Feb 2010

Now is a good time to look at tarting up your tired boundaries before plants get too big and climbers spread themselves out.

Personally I dislike most fence panels and would prefer to use some sort of willow or bamboo screening on a roll as a backdrop to the planting. It’s not as long lasting as fence panels, but attached to your existing fence it provides a good, low cost, ‘quick fix’ and creates a nice aesthetic for your space. It can also add height, and therefore privacy, to an existing boundary.

There are a wide variety of types, styles, heights and suppliers. This is the advice Primrose London give on installation:

Willow screening roll: Ideal for disguising existing fencing or walls.

 See pictures below for best way to attach willow screening.

Available in 4 metre (13ft) long rolls. with a choice of three heights: 1m (3ft 3in) and 1.5m (4ft 11in) and 2m.

Easily attached to existing fences or walls with galvanised wire, cable ties, screws or nails. 

Willow cane cane is strong enough that it can be used to increase the height of an existing fence or wall. For example, if you had a 3ft wall or fence, you could firmly attach the 1.5m roll (4ft 11 inches high) to the existing fence to increase the overall height to 1.5m.

Each roll is made of individual vertical willow canes of varying thickness usually up to 15mm in diameter – see pictures. The vertical canes are tied together with horizontal galvanised wire.

 Pasted from <http://www.primrose-london.co.uk/willow-screening-c-67.html>

Whilst fumbling my way through the internet this week I came across these super cool pods…

http://www.officepod.co.uk/
  

At just 2.1m x 2.1m they are just perfect for creating an additional room in a garden. Often space is at a premium indoors meaning the garden space gets eaten up with extensions, conservatories, garden gyms, huge sheds, workshops or garages which are often very difficult to hide in a small garden. But when a garden office can be as cool as this, who would want to try? The OfficePod is sold not only as an exterior space, but also as a lifestyle change, minimising the impact on the environment in terms of commuting to the office as well as creating an environment conducive to working in. The brief was simple:
 

1. To create a self contained office that exceeds all standard office accommodation regulations & requirements.
 

2. To provide an environment that is conducive to productive work.
 

3. To create a product that staff would want, and even be proud to have, in their garden.
  

4. Have the minimum impact on the environment – both in manufacture and use.
  

The specification states ‘The OfficePOD provides the user with an efficient use of space with innovative storage and desktop solutions. High quality materials have been carefully chosen for their combination of visual, physical and environmental characteristics. Power is provided via a discrete and protected connection to the house or garage; IT and phone connectivity is generally wireless but can be similarly cabled. The POD is provided with a secure locking system of the highest quality. The environment has been a primary consideration in the choice of materials. Recycled and recyclable products have been used wherever possible and natural materials chosen above man-made. The POD satisfies the most stringent energy performance benchmarks with it’s low energy consumption level, high levels of insulation and innovative cooling system. We are committed to further improvements as advances in science and technology allow’
  

The OfficePod team work with the client to not only install the OfficePod but to commission all services as well, ensuring that you are up and running in the IT department in no time.

It’s a new product with a beautiful design, well crafted and ticking all the boxes – this is something to get excited about. Suitable for small gardens with difficult access, it ticks all the boxes here at Earth Designs – so I am off to find me a garden to ‘pod’ it in

When planning your planting design, consider form and textures as well as practical issues such as flowering times and size. The addition of a strong form in contrast to soft planting, such as grasses, can create an eye-catching and dynamic juxtoposition that will really make your garden stand out. There are a number of ways you can achieve this, from interspersing the planting with a selection of ‘found’ objects rescued from boot sales, skips and forgotten cupboards, to growing climbers up willow obelisks. Spheres are a really good way of achieving a designer feel to a garden and can be found in a variety of materials. They also work particularly well in repetition or groups.

 

 

 

What You’ll Need:

• Inflatable ball
• Vaseline
• Chicken wire (fine gauge)
• Cement (low aggregate)
• Tie wire
• Snips
• Old rags
• Liquid dish soap
• Cement pigment (if desired)

Step 1:

Blow up your inflatable ball. The inflatable ball should be the approximate size that you want your concrete sphere. Beach balls and exercise balls work well. Once the ball is inflated, coat the entire surface with Vaseline, use liberally as this coating will be what will allow you to withdraw the ball from your sphere when you are done.

              
Step 2:

Wrap the ball in a layer of chicken wire as tightly as you can. It is up to you if you leave the opening to the sphere free of chicken wire now or cut it out later. However, make sure that you plan for the opening to be in the same place as the plug for your inflatable ball so you can easily deflate it when the time comes.

   
Step 3:

Cut about 20 pieces of three-inch tie wire and pass each wire under the chicken wire, twist it once so it is tight to the chicken wire and then pull the ends away from the ball. Do this every five inches around the ball. In the end you should have a ball that looks like it has spikes or cactus needles coming out of it.

     
Step 4:

Mix a small batch of concrete. You want your concrete to be almost in a slurry form, more of a batter texture than clumpy. Coat the ball with your concrete slurry, just enough to cover the chicken wire, but don’t worry if any is still showing. Let the concrete dry for about 45 minutes, depending on the climate you are in.

    
Step 5:

Wrap your concrete sphere in chicken wire again twisting the tie wires to hold it in place and pulling the ends out so they are like spikes again. Mix another batch of concrete and coat the ball again. Allow time to dry.

    
Step 6:

Repeat Step 5 three more times. On the last layer of chicken wire, bend the ends of the tie wires down and back through the wire so they do not poke up. Coat the sphere with a final layer of concrete, using slightly more then you did on the previous layers. Let the sphere sit overnight to cure.

   
Step 7:

Deflate the ball inside your sphere and pull it out through the opening. Clean out the Vaseline inside the ball with some old rags and dish soap and you are ready to fill your sphere with potting soil and plant your flowers.