Garden Design - Poplar, London E14
This design seeks to create slick and stylish space suitable for outdoor entertaining, with small feminine touches giving the garden a softer edge. Entering garden from the street gate, the user steps onto a triangular area of decking, laid with attractive and durable Massaranduba hardwood boards. This decking leads between two bespoke waterfeatures, each comprised of a large rectangular stainless steel tank fed by a stainless steel waterblade mounted on the side of railway sleeper raised beds behind each tank. The decking steps down to a 50cm wide decked pathway, which doglegs to the right and continues around a central seating area consisting of an L-shaped bench seat constructed from sturdy railway sleepers, backed by a high railway sleeper raised bed. Flooring in this area will consist of stylish and highly decorative cream Travertine paving laid in a formal, grid pattern. The decking pathway continues around the space, past lower (50cm) raised beds flanked by 1m high railway sleeper planters, to terminate at the sliding patio doors. The lower raised beds in this area are at just the right height to offer additional, occasional seating when entertaining larger numbers of people. All the railway sleeper beds and benches will be stained a colour of the clients choice.
A second seating area in the top right corner of the space offers opportunity for more secluded, private entertaining. Large enough to place a table and chairs, or to house outdoor beanbags or sofas, the area will consist of a Travertine patio enclosed by a bespoke wooden pergola. This pergola will be constructed from Massandaruba posts and cross beams with rusted iron re-enforcing mesh 'walls' and 'roof' providing a framework upon which beautiful flowering wisteria will be trained.
To either side of this structure will be flush planting beds, the right hand one of which will house a large stainless steel planter containing a large (2m high) 'Cordyline australis' selected to imbue the space with added height and drama. There will be a further flush beds on the left of the space (along the brick wall).
The planting in the space will be bold and simple. The raised beds to the left of the space house dramatic 'Ophiopogon planiscapus Nigrescens' with 'Phormium Maori Queen' in each corner planter. The seating area will be filled with fragrant lavender, whilst the flush beds around the entire space house evergreen architectural specimens with a purple theme to create a contemporary tropical feel. The boundaries will be softened and obscured with the evergreen scented climber 'Trachelospermum jasminoides'.
The design will be complete with the inclusion of a strong, comprehensive lighting scheme. The screened pergola will be lit amply yet gently with single stainless steel down lights mounted towards the top of each support post. Likewise, the gated entrance to the garden will be illuminated by a single stainless steel downlight mounted at the top of a Massandaruba hardwood post attached to the pillar by the gate. The clients passage through the space will be guided by small white LED lights installed at intervals in the decking path. Two underwater lights, one in each pond, will up-light the water falling from the stainless steel water blade, providing a stunning welcome to the space when the sun goes down. The main seating area will be lit with six stainless steel bollard light installed on the top of the planters and raised beds. This area will also benefit from a double weather proof socket to allow the easy use of electrical equipment outdoors. Finally, the lighting will be complete with the installation of a series of low voltage spotlights throughout the flush beds, positioned to give a gentle overall glow to the garden whilst serving to highlight individual specimen plants.