Garden Design - Westbourne Green, London W11
The garden will be 'zoned' to create separate areas with different uses and levels. However, to help impart a sense of continuity and avoid the space becoming overly disparate, similar materials and styles will be used throughout.
The basement level walled area directly outside the back door will be extended back by 2.5 metres, with white rendered walls, a richly decked floor and deep benches and a table constructed from reclaimed railway sleepers. This area will be lit with soft ambient lighting. A major feature of this space will be a 'sky path' constructed of oak sleepers, which will run along the end wall to a width of 3 sleepers. As well as providing a modicum of protection from the elements to anyone sitting on the bench below, this walkway will provide access from the existing stairs on the right to the rest of the garden above, whilst allowing the largest area possible to the extension below. The basement courtyard will also be covered with retractable awnings to provide a little extra enclosure to the space when desired.
The existing staircase will be tiled with natural slate and will feature a plinth alcove to the right of the first landing, upon which a large potted plant or piece of sculpture could be placed. Bespoke mild steel railings running to the left of the railings, and continuing around the 2 other exposed edges of the basement courtyard, will give an introduction to the 'weathered' steel that will feature throughout the space. The small area of soil to the right of the stairs will be planted with evergreen black bamboo and deep maroon tulips. This dramatic planting will be contrasted with scented white evergreen clematis planted directly ahead as you emerge from the stairs.
The natural slate paving used on the stairs will be continued over the 'sky path', and up the middle of the garden. The slate will also be used to pave the area directly in front of the side entrance to the garden (a gate for this side entrance will be constructed.
The slate pathway running down the middle of the garden will end at a sunken 'conversation pit' in the middle of the space. Raised 'tanks', constructed of railway sleepers and topped with living turf, will run either side of the slate path, finishing a metre before the conversation pit. Between the 'grass tanks' and the conversation pit will stand two 1 metre square copper planters containing two large architectural 'Cordyline australis', one on either side of the path. The size and height of these plants and planters will give the illusion of a canopy to the conversation pit and will also serve as a dramatic frame to the rest of the garden .The conversation pit itself will be constructed on two levels to a depth of 3 feet, with white rendered block walls and decking seating and floors. A rim of slate tiles will run around the edge of the pit, bordering onto thin flush beds into which a mixture of deep plum phormiums, scented evergreen lavender and purple alliums.
The area beyond the conversation pit running to the bottom of the garden will see a continuation of the slate pathway, flanked by railway sleeper raised beds on either side. These beds will be packed with a riot of purple and white planting coupled with spiky red cordylines, and lush evergreen shrubs. A stunning 'Magnolia grandiflora' will add height to the space, providing the most beautiful cream blooms during the Spring.
The bottom of the garden will provide main focal points for the space, featuring a stunning 6 foot high rusted steel wall across the garden's width. The highlight of this this wall will be a water feature comprised of 3 vertical railway sleepers inset in the middle with a copper water-spout. The spout will provide a waterfall effect, backlit from within the upright sleepers, into a narrow slate tiled pool below. A slate paved area, running the width of the garden between the raised beds and the pool, will provide an additional seating area in order to make the most of the afternoon sun within earshot of the sound of running water. Flush beds to either side of the slate pool will feature a soft and sexy planting scheme, utilising green ferns, plump, lush blue hostas, skirted around a majestic 'Dicksonia antarctica, and iced with elegant white calla lillies, to provide a breathtaking finish to one of the most visual and inspiring areas in the garden.