Contemporary New-Build Garden Design
BRIEF
We were asked to design this new-build garden for a couple who had recently moved into the property and wanted to make much better use of their relatively small plot, which was considerably wider than it was deep.
The developer had constructed a terrace running the full length of the house. It dominated the space and felt out of proportion with the shape of the garden. The main steps also led towards one of the narrowest parts of the plot, directing the eye straight towards the boundary and making the garden feel smaller.
The owners had a defined budget, so it was important that we explored ideas that would make a meaningful difference without unnecessary construction costs. They were keen gardeners and wanted to remove the lawn, replacing it with substantially more planting and hard landscaping.
The existing terrace was mainly in shade, so the brief also included an additional seating area positioned where the garden received the most sun.
DESIGN SOLUTION
Our design process began by looking carefully at the oversized existing terrace. We developed three different options for altering it and obtained indicative costs from contractors so that we could test the feasibility of each approach against the available budget.
The preferred solution involved effectively ‘cutting the corner’ off one side of the terrace. This allowed the new steps to point towards the wider part of the garden rather than towards the fence immediately opposite the house, changing both the physical route into the garden and the perception of the space.
The steps lead to a section of decked path, which connects to a further decked seating area in the corner that receives the most sun.
A gravel path of varying width snakes through the garden, linking a summerhouse in the opposite corner with the side door of the garage. Its curved route adds a greater sense of journey and helps disguise the relatively shallow proportions of the plot.
Removing the lawn gave us space to introduce small trees, shrubs and much more generous planting, creating depth and allowing views to unfold gradually as you move through the garden.
Creeping plants were incorporated into the wider sections of gravel to soften the hard landscaping and help create the informal Mediterranean character the owners wanted.
Beneath the shade of an Acer, a water bowl creates reflections on the surface of the water. It acts both as a focal point and as a quieter, contemplative element within the garden.
The owners were delighted with the finished design, which was subsequently shortlisted for the 2021 garden design awards
