Garden Design in Essex: Garden of the Month January 2014

Brief

The subject of this design is an awkward shaped corner plot in a modern semi-detached property. The client lives in Austria, so uses the garden only periodically throughout the year. The tree in the garden is protected by a TPO and therefore must be incorporated into the design. There are also wheelie and recycling bins for which provision must be made. The client is in the process of buying a strip of land from their neighbour in order to increase the size of the garden. As the client’s spend a lot of time away, it is important that the design is low maintenance.

Solution

This garden design in Essex is based on curves and spirals. The majority of the space would be paved with ‘Mint Fossil’ Indian Sandstone in a crazy paved pattern. This will be detailed with a spiral pattern in black limestone setts. An arced raised bed sweeping across the rear of the garden forms the back rest to a smooth planed curved oak bench. This bench will feature circular cross-section of tree trunk at one end that acts as a lounging seat. The bench will be complemented with a table, also constructed from a large cross-section of tree trunk.

A sandstone bowl water feature sits at the centre of the spiral floor pattern, in a direct eye-line from the house interior through the patio doors. The sunken reservoir of the feature will be dressed with black polished pebbles to create a stylish focal point to the space. A timber summerhouse is nestled in the right hand side of the garden to act as an artist’s studio to give the client somewhere to paint. The structure features twin glazed doors and is angled to overlook the main section of the garden.

To the left of this building will be a large, slightly raised, decking half-circle positioned around the tree, with a smaller ground-level decked circle cut into one side over which the client’s existing swing chair will be suspended to create a further area for relaxation. The corridor along the side of the house will include a raised bed constructed from railway sleepers in which the client can grow vegetables and a luxury bespoke timber storage unit to house the wheelie and recycling bins.