The Brief
​
A complete redesign of a small, corner plot family garden, with specific space for alfresco dining, a pond, to be wildlife friendly, retain some lawn and provide a space for young children to enjoy the garden without feeling the garden is cluttered and small.
​
After discussing with the client, using our client centred design process they leant their preferences and dream on a costal style garden.
​
We set about creating a coastal style retreat in one of middle England's suburbs.
The Plot
The plot was a wide but short plot with a large side alley, a steep bank to the side of the garden which was held back by a timber wall. Overgrown mature trees blocked a lot of the light and cast to much shade on the garden. There was also an over bearing garage brick wall which dominated the north east rear.
The Design
We took the radical step of completely changing the gardens perspective by splitting the garden into a number of zones and rotating each zone by 45 degrees relative to the house, by doing this the eye was drawn to the borrowed landscape of the trees in the woodland to the side of the clients property and taking focus off the garage wall.
To deal with the level change gabion stone walls topped off with stained scaffold boards for seating were added to give the family plenty of flexible seating. A new large decking area was added to the rear of the property to take advantage of the evening sun was added. An informal socialising area was placed in the centre of the garden, surrounded by an informal pergola (which could also serve as a washing line , and swing!). this also added height to the garden which, over time, wisteria will grow around. To make the garden more wildlife friendly, 3 small amalanchira tress were added and a pond with soft planed tall grasses and purple and blue style coastal plants.
​
Not forgetting the children, the rest of the garden was transformed intro a beachy retreat , the oversized trees removed, a sandpit and Wendy house suggested in line with the coastal style design.
