| Site
Description:
A pretty, terraced Victorian house in North West Bristol
with honey coloured stone walls. The east facing garden
was already terraced using red brick walls and felt very
imposing. There was limited planting areas and the garden
felt rather bleak. Dimensions of the garden were only
5m x 9m (width x length) and the rise in height from the
house to the back boundary was 2.5m.The existing paving
materials were 'busy' comprising 2 different coloured
concrete pavers (in various crumbling states), gravel
and the red brick walls.
Issues:
•The upper terrace felt particularly exposed, but
was potentially an ideal place to enjoy afternoon / evening
sun. Crumbling brick steps led to the upper terrace.
•The middle level was dominated by an existing raised
brick pond with a fake concrete waterfall and contained
fish (including koi) left by previous owner. Additional
raised beds on either side visually narrowed the garden.
•The lower back door level was very narrow, hemmed
in by the middle terrace retaining walls and felt claustrophobic.
Existing steps up to next level were rudimentary.
• There was an additional narrow passageway down
the house side which was dead space.
•The garden in general had limited privacy from
houses up above and to each side.
The
Brief:
The new owner wanted a beautiful garden in which
to relax in, but with more privacy. She wanted to maximize
space on the upper level for entertaining but also feel
more enclosed. She also wanted further terraces in which
to enjoy the sun at different times of the day. The fish
pond was to be retained. Planting was to be cottage-like
with roses and clematis and some star plants.
The
Design:
Upper Level: Timber defines
the upper garden area with a pergola framing the decked
upper terrace. The pergola, together with the new timber
fence and trellis boundary will provide overhead shade
and privacy as climbers grow up and over.
New copper pergola lights will provide a ambient atmosphere
at night and an additional outdoor double socket will
allow for working outside. A balustrade encloses the terrace
and also makes it safer. The new timber retaining walls
double up as additional garden seating.
Middle Level: The newly paved sandstone terrace
has a simpler feel and forms another peaceful sitting
area. Planting beds are integrated into this area and
help screen the lower and middle areas. The brick raised
pond is now rendered, making it less 'busy' . The client
has painted all the render a warm terracotta colour, which
works well with the timber. Broader timber steps link
the upper and middle terraces together.
Lower Level: This area beside the kitchen
door was enlarged by pushing back the low retaining wall
from the house and now makes a lovely morning sun area.
Paved and rendered angled stone steps link the lower and
middle areas. The low retaining walls are also rendered
and painted.
Passage Area:
The
client has plans to convert the study window into a double
french door, so she can wander straight outside.
Planting
The
planting utilizes all vertical spaces with grape vines,
wisteria over the pergola together with a mix of honeysuckles,
climbing roses and clematis. Specimen plants include a
purple Japanese maple (for glorious autumn colour) and
miscanthus for autumn winter interest. Geraniums, hostas,
ferns, forget-me not, siberian iris and bamboos will enjoy
the dappled shade and Shrubs include a wall trained Ceanothus,
Pyracantha and Daphne mezereum for winter scent. |
