Garden Design - Gants Hill, Essex IG2
The Brief
The plot is a good sized, sub-urban garden containing a few established plants and several mature trees that will need to be removed. It has a split level terrace structure that the clients are happy to keep, and some weathered but mostly sound fencing, parts of which may need replacing. Neither of the clients are keen gardeners, so a very low maintenance space is highly desirable.
The Solution
The design takes its inspiration from traditional Victorian courtyard gardens to create a structured space with a strong sense of privacy and enclosure. Attractive natural slate flooring will feature throughout, inlaid with new Victorian-style tiling and low, ground cover planting to create a richly patterned and textured design.
The existing paving, mature trees, shed and concrete base will be removed, and a replacement shed erected in the space that currently houses the coal bunker. The retaining wall running along the front edge of the upper terrace will be clad with a wall constructed from new railway sleepers, and wide, slate tiled steps will allow passage from upper to lower terrace.
The upper terrace will feature a 'Rustic Autumn' natural slate patio in a formal 'grid' pattern, edged with a twin border of ornate Victorian tiles and 'Barley' natural slate. Planting in flush beds to the left and right of this paving will serve to mask the fence and storage area. Further screening of the storage area will be achieved with the erection of a 6 x 6 trellis screen, into which we will set a reclaimed Victorian stained glass pane, to create a highly unusual and eye catching framework to support climbers in the bed below. A focal point of the upper terrace will be two raised, slate capped railway sleeper pools, one either side of the steps, from which water will cascade over slate spouts into two similar pools in the terrace below.
The lower terrace will feature a central patio in 'Barley' slate tiles, inset in the centre with a 5 m. sq. section of Victorian patterned tiles edged with a double border of 'Rustic Autumn' slate and creeping Sedum. The lower terrace will be bounded left, right and back by raised railway sleeper beds, which will be 2 sleepers high in the front half of the terrace and elevated to 4 sleepers high in the back half of the area.
L-shaped fixed bench railway sleeper seating constructed along the back bed will offer ample space for al fresco entertaining and relaxation. A focal point to the lower terrace will be a stained glass 'light box' mounted on the wall to the left of the space. This will comprise a reclaimed Victorian stained glass pane set into frame constructed from exterior grade timber and back lit to create a stunning nocturnal talking point.
Planting in the space will feature architectural strong forms. Lush and evergreen shrubs will sit amongst leafy ferns. Extensive use of climbers will serve to maximise the vertical surfaces in the space. All planting has been chosen for minimum maintenance.
A selection of exterior lighting will ensure continued enjoyment of the space when the sun goes down. Thirty low voltage spots, placed throughout the beds to emphasise certain specimen plants, will give the garden a gentle ambient wash, while four mature Cypressa will be accent lit with 75w uplighters. Submersible lights in the lower terrace ponds will illuminate the waterfalls at night, throwing an undulating radiance across the space. Finally ornate two art deco standard lights, one on either front corner of the higher raised beds, will complete the lighting design.