Essex Countryside Garden with a Far Eastern Influence
Brief
Our client is well travelled and has a particular passion for the Far East, so would like a modern oriental feel to the new design.
The brief is for bold and low maintenance, with attention to issues of privacy across the rear boundary.
The new layout should retain access to the brick built structure along the left hand side
Solution
The whole design is twisted on a 45° angle to stretch the space. Directly outside the house,a large patio paved in white porcelain allows plenty of space for garden furniture. A stunning bobbling block water feature provides interest, and the existing olives will be re-planted into new Corten steel cube planters. The patio will feature a line of sett detailing running through to continue as one edge of a sett edged loose aggregate pathway running up the garden and across the back.
The patio is bordered along the right edge by a block wall clad in attractive slate V tiles to add texture and interest. The existing black bamboo will be re-planted in a raised Corten steel bed positioned behind the feature wall.
The main feature in the garden is a bold curved Corten steel wall spanning the entire width of the garden, which rises gradually from a ground level strip running through the main patio to 1800mm high at the back of the space. Positioned in front of the Corten steel wall, on a bed of Japanese pebbles, will be several fibreglass planters in a range of sizes and finishes, each containing a specimen plant.
Added interest will be provided by sandstone spheres of various sizes. Beyond the Corten steel wall will be a trio of no dishes are planted with Iris. The sett edged pathway will zigzag across the garden to the existing brick sheds, then continue down the garden in front of the building and back across the garden towards the house.
The zigzag section of pathway behind the Corten wall will feature a series of timber arches to provide height and create a sense of drama and intrigue when moving through the space.
Planting in this garden is all about foliage. The existing Choisya and mature tree will remain, with an additional tree planted in the back left hand corner
