This long, thin garden was in need of a complete overhaul. The clients have developed their interior to cope with their increasing needs as a small family, and needed to realise the potential of their outdoor space. They intended to include a garden office and require ample space for their very active toddler to play.
The design divides the garden into distinct zones. Directly adjoining the back of the house is a patio constructed from a combination of mint fossil sandstone slabs, sunken railway sleepers, and creeping sedum infill. The multiple textures in this flooring give a high degree of interest while providing maximum usable surface area. The existing acer palmatum was retained to help frame the entrance to the next section of the garden.
The divide of the space is accentuated by a timber screen with several apertures of varying sizes, some of which are inlaid with decorative stainless steel mesh inserts. Directly behind this screen is a timber framed tunnel clad in stainless steel mesh, under which a decking walkway leads the user through the space. The garden office takes pride of place to the right, with a small decked patio ideally placed for a cafe style table and chairs. A stainless steel sphere water feature nestled in the bed between the decking and the main patio provides a stylish focal point.
The client’s existing storage chest was relocated alongside a hoggin (self-binding aggregate) path that zig-zags its way up the garden past three small square lawns. The first lawn was laid on the diagonal and was enclosed by a timber frame to allow the clients to hang a swing or install fabric to transform it into a den. The second and third lawns benefit from a mesh screen on a timber frame. A railway sleeper raised bed in the right hand corner of the garden allows the opportunity for vegetable gardening, while a small area of decking to the left offers additional space for relaxation and socialising. A small garden shed in the far left corner of the space provides additional storage.
