Garden Design - Clapham, London SW4
This design seeks to make maximum use of the limited space in this long, thin garden, creating a modern, funky space that is suitable for dining, relaxation and small-scale entertaining.
The existing decking will be cleaned and stained and the fences along the entire boundary clad with 2m high split-cane bamboo screen to create a uniform back drop to the new additions to the space.
The garden will benefit from two seating areas, designed with different uses in mind. The first will take the form of a large (2m x 3.5m) four-poster 'day bed' installed at the end of the side-way. Constructed from treated timber with a decking base, head boards, and treated timber posts, the bed will be stained to match the decking and will feature a coloured perspex panel frontage. Privacy and shade will be provided by the installation of a weatherproof shade sail between the top of the four corner posts (approx. 2m above the bed).
The second seating area will comprise three fixed benches and dining table in the rectangular space at the back of the house. Constructed from treated timber with a decked seat, the benches will also feature a coloured perspex frontage and will be flanked on either side by 60cm brushed steel planters containing tall and striking cordyline australis (cabbage tree).
Further planting will be provided by five large rectangular brushed steel tanks installed at intervals along the sideway boundary. Containing elegant arum and african lilies, these planters will serve to break up the expanse of boundary fence while providing a visually arresting display.
One of the main focal points of the space will be a water feature installed down the sideway halfway between the door and the dining area. This feature will comprise a stainless steel blade installed on the side of the house, from which water will cascade to a flush-level pebble pool below. The pebble pool will be dressed with blue glass mulch, which will continue across the width of the sideway (a section of decking will be removed to allow this) to create the impression that the water feature pool is actually larger than it is. This theme will be expanded with a series of small, rectangular, glass mulch filled cut-outs installed at intervals in the decking along the entire length of the sideway.
A subtle yet comprehensive lighting scheme will complete the design, allowing continued use of the garden when the sun goes down. The day bed will be illuminated by two adjustable stainless steel spotlights installed at the top of opposite corner posts. Weatherproof fluorescent strip lights installed behind the perspex screens in both bed and benches will turn the seating into a nocturnal focal point. The water blade will be lit from below to cast a gentle undulating light across the space when the feature is in use. A 240 volt spotlight in each of the four cube planters will create night-time sculptures of the cordyline trees. Finally, each of the small mulch filled cut-outs will be illuminated from within to guide one through the space in a fun and funky way.