Walled Garden Design with Bespoke Garden Room
BRIEF
Our clients for this walled garden were a semi-retired couple who wanted to create a tranquil retreat where they could spend increasing amounts of time.
An important part of the brief was screening from neighbouring properties and creating a greater feeling of privacy and intimacy, but without making the enclosed garden itself feel smaller or more restricted.
They also wanted to be able to sit outside at different times of day and in a much wider range of weather conditions, so a new garden room became an important part of the design.
The existing garden contained areas of irregularly shaped paving but lacked an overall structure or clear design language.
The clients preferred clean, straight lines, which presented an interesting challenge because the walled garden itself was not square and included several awkward angles.
DESIGN SOLUTION
The centrepiece of the design is a bespoke garden room with covered sides that can be opened or closed according to the weather.
As we often do with bespoke elements, we developed the original concept and then worked with a specialist supplier to translate it into the detailed design required for construction.
The relationship between the garden room and the planting was particularly important. Raised beds are positioned immediately outside the structure, so that when the clients sit inside they still feel closely connected to the garden. Flowers and carefully positioned herbs bring planting, colour and scent close to the room rather than leaving it isolated within an expanse of paving.
During colder weather the sides can be closed and an infrared heater used, extending the period during which the garden room can be comfortably used for relaxing and entertaining.
Two paths intersect the space and circle around a central island bed. This creates alternative routes through the garden, giving a greater sense of journey and helping the enclosed space feel larger.
The paths lead to another informal seating area, positioned so that the owners have different places to sit according to whether they want sun or shade at different times of day.
The result is a walled garden that feels more intimate and private while offering more, rather than fewer, reasons to move through and spend time in the space.
