Garden Design - Hornchurch, Essex RM11
The Brief
The existing space is overused and tired, sloping and un-level, posing a danger to the client's two small children and making the space unattractive and problematic.
The Solution
The re-design divides the space into several distinct areas, utilising a series of decking walkways and platforms to create a multi-use, family oriented space. The terrace outside the back door will be decked with attractive and durable Yellow Balau hardwood decking, which will extended beyond the existing terrace to allow ample seating and dining space. Running across the width of the garden directly in front of this decked terrace will be a gabion wall, filled with plum slate paddlestones and topped with a lavender hedge to increase its height and prevent children from climbing over the top.
A set of steps to the right of the decked terrace will lead down to a 1 metre wide decked walkway runing down the right-hand side of the space. Halfway down this walkway, a Flanked either side by a trellis to for safety in time climbers will grow along here to make it a green screened walkway, at the point where the steps lead down to the lawn the wire trellis becomes a caged box.
From this gabion wall a water blade will be cited which will appear out of the gabion and extend out across the garden by 100cm and fall the 125cm to the lawn below. It will be self circulating and collect in an gabion trough filled with cobbles so there is no body of water at any point that could pose a potential danger, The children will however be able to interact with the water by being able to walk behind the waterfall and play with the falling water.
The user then has the option to turn left and follow the fight of steps down to the artificial lawn below which has been encased in a railway sleeper to allow it to become level, or they can continue along the decked walkway down some steps to the tree two thirds of the way down the left hand side of the space. The decking opens out at this point and you can pass either side of the tree and continue on your journey or you can pass round to the right of the tree where a small flight of steps leads you to a platform above you at a height or 1.7m above ground level which partially covers the decked area 2m below and partially covers the ground. Upon this decked platform a Wendy house will be cited to create a tree top house for children and adults. This area will be surrounded with a wooden balustrade.
Should you continue of the lower decked level you pass under the decked area above and climb another couple of steps so you are then 1.5m above ground level and continue onto the bottom left hand corner of the garden where a 3 x 4 decked area awaits you, again enclose by a wire cage to allow a real dynamic architectural feel to the space.
Running under the last decked walkway is a tunnel 1.5m in height and reach via a small set of steps from the lawn. This tunnel allows you to pass along it and arrive in an area towards the bottom of the garden where a small children's play area awaits. This will have a swing cited under the tree top platform along with a rope climbing net and a slide. A ladder will allow the child back up to the area above.
Storage will be provided under the main area of decking by the house and doors will be cited by the lawn. A smaller storage area will be available in the children's area to store things out of site, again under the large area of deck.
Planting in the space will be primarily around the boundary and around the lawn. Coupling big leafy architectural evergreens with herbaceous perennials in a contemporary style. The use of grasses and prairie style plants will add to movement and texture in the space and introduce some showy flowers. Large bamboos to mask a reveal certain areas will afford some intrigue in the space and a clever use of climbers will add vertical interest throughout the space. Artifice lawn will help keep maintenance to a minimum and keep the garden looking good all year round.
Lighting in the garden will be dynamic. The gabion wall with have flat plight placed into the vertical side to illuminate the decking below, whilst stylish bollards will light each corner of the main terrace. The decked walkway will have micro led light running down either side of the walkway and step risers. A spotlight placed in the tree will illuminate the treetop platform. Rope lighting will be cited along the underside of the decking platform to give it the feeling of floating and all the beds will have LV spots light running through them to give the planting a soft glow. The water feature will be lit from the underneath to create drama when sitting on the terrace at the end of the garden. The caged areas will have a net light over the top to add a magical sparkle to the space created.