A Modern Approach
Sussex
A 3.8 acre garden nestled in the Sussex countryside with glorious views over the South Downs. The house was originally designed by Michael Twigg in the 1970’s, perhaps best known for Hays Galleria in London, it has gone through extensive remodelling over the years with the current owners looking to bring back some of it's original spirit with a nod to the renowned Bentley Wood. Wishing for the grounds to also take cue from late midcentury landscaping in Britain while giving it the flow of a classic country estate. Major works had already begun over the past year not just in form of an extension to the main residence, overall renovations and the introduction of additional out buildings but also with significant alterations to the gardens layout and appearance being made. Seeing the removal of trees, ponds and large romantic flower beds with the introduction of wide gravel paths. Initially aiming to eradicate the overall sense of the existing classic “English Country Garden” which felt largely disjointed with the main residence original 70’s design. A need for a professional approach quickly became apparent with the aim to give the whole garden a cohesive feel in shape, colour and form.
The new design draws upon the rich history of modernist architecture in Britain in tune with the architecture of the house. while giving the garden the overall feel of a classic country estate, playing to the amazing views. Connecting and embedding the new office, out buildings and works on the main residence into the surrounding landscape. Also catering to the wants and needs of modern family life, reshaping the layout close the house itself. Introducing a cohesive colour, shape and form scheme for plants, trees and shrubs. A scheme that complements the now black stained main building, oak extension and interiors heavy on English and Scandinavian design classics. New trees, shrubs and planting are easier to maintain while providing attractive colour and structure throughout the year. A garden that follows the seasons with ease. The full scheme includes tiered lawns framed by fagus sylvatica purpurea hedging and topiary. A split level 300sqm terrace with incorporated planting, firepit, sundeck, hot tub and herb garden. Planting of 60 mature woodland trees and extended meadows.
Project Timeline
Spring 2021 - Ongoing
Image References
Photographs: Lis Eriksson
Image Reference: Masterplan in Graphite
Great Bossingham Farm
Kent
To devise and implement a comprehensive hard and soft landscaping scheme for five new dwellings and a workshop across one hectare of land in the village of Great Bossingham. Designed by Taylor Hare Architects and working alongside the contractor Barwick Properties. The project includes private gardens alongside a communal farmstead courtyard an orchard and meadows. In line with Taylor Hare Architects landscape strategy the planting is largely native taking direct influence from farms and farmsteads, with the use of informal natural planting, garden walls and hedgerows used to create an appropriate visual character. The landscaping plays a central role in the farmstead character, and is inspired by the unattended areas of historic farms, where wildflowers and shrubs often proliferate and provide habitat for insects and small mammals.
The informal planting design will provide privacy and denote boundaries where necessary, and become gradually more varied where delineation is not required. Increased planting along the site boundaries is intended to create wildlife corridors around the site, increasing useable habitat for local wildlife and helping to shield the existing and proposed buildings from the AONB. Whilst the relatively formal courtyard arrangement directly references the historic Kent farmstead, with unattended edges of which would typically feature wildflower boundaries and sprawling shrubs. The landscaping proposal seeks to play on this informal and wild nature, contrasting to, and softening the orthogonal layout.
*Planting to be sustainable where possible.
Project Timeline
Commencing Spring 2024
Image References
CGI & Elements Plan: Taylor Hare Architects
Micro Terrace
London
A roof terrace garden design as part of a full refurb of a Victorian Mews House, nestled down a quiet cobbled street in the Little Venice area of Maida Vale in London. Initially presenting two design layouts for at this small but perfectly formed roof terrace measuring approximately 8sqm. Working alongside, architects, the construction team and the interior designer this space is not without its challenges including multiple planning applications, having to remove and replace supporting beam structure and lowering an interior ceiling to make space for the actual terrace.
Hard landscaping and furniture are kept in tactile and light coloured materials, whilst planting and soft furnishings come in darker plummy shades ranging from purply browns to the lightest pinks as requested by the client and in keeping with the interiors. Planters proposed to be made in galvanised zinc emulating the new exterior of the house and the limed oak millboard decking has a discreet grain similar to the colouring to the interior floor, connecting the inside with the outside terrace.
For the final design the furniture and surrounding trellis were made in white washed sapele to fit the compact space, altogether giving the materials used a clean but slightly aged feel. The bespoke sofa has plush cushions made from Perennials luxury outdoor fabrics.
Planting consists of lush evergreen foliage from the likes of Euphorbias and a selection of ferns with pops of colour througout all seasons from bulbs and perrenials such as Agapanthus, Verbena, Geraniums and Tulips. A colour changing Clematis wraps around the whole space providing a lush fragrant privacy screen. Subtle spotlights are placed in the planters . Any irrigation and leads are discretely hidden under the millboard decking and whilst still easily accessible.
With the design aesthetic so closely linked to the interiors this terrace is a true extension to the home. A small but highly versatile and welcoming space, where every detail is considered to maximise it's potential.
A verdant, cosy and private haven as featured on Gardenista.
Project Timeline
Completion Summer 2023
Image References
Photography: Rae Warne
Shaded Garden
London
This 70 sqm shaded city garden in South East London takes cue from it’s owner, a natural health practitioner with Mediterranean roots. Rendered walls in the softest of pinks, inky black fencing and paths of crushed seashells houses some light weight and modular bamboo furniture. Alongside a fire pit with enough room for a bbq and a casually devised dining area. The space is enveloped in a stream of frothy grasses, winter flowering Cherry trees and a core of fragrant medicinal perennials.
Project Timeline
Completed Autumn 2022
Image References
Concept: Outsourced imagery
Concept Plan: Lis Eriksson Vectorworks
Small Town Garden
London
Tasked to make this 24sqm garden of a late Victorian maisonette in Balham, feel like a truly inviting space with the aim to be somewhere in constant use enjoyed throughout the whole year. Giving a sense of privacy while staying spatially generous in a compact environment. Seen as an extension to the comfortable and eclectic interiors. With the living space being on the first floor, viewed from above its a flourishing green space with plenty of texture finished off with quality materials and craftsmanship. A sympathetic design cared for with ease it delivers on aesthetics as well as practical needs of its owner. This concept entails some very low maintenance planting and a layout able to house a lively puppy alongside repositioning and “re-dressing” stairs from first floor whilst addressing the privacy aspect of neighbouring properties.
Project Timeline
Completion Spring 2022
Image References
Photographs: Lis Eriksson
Initial Concept Board: Outsourced Imagery
Roof Terrace
London
Working closely with Architect Zahra Taleifeh for a residential project spanning two roof terraces in classic stucco fronted architecture overlooking one of Kensington many gardens squares. This raised planter scheme needed to be sun tolerant and low maintenance with year round interest in a compact space. The high specification interiors are designed in a contemporary style with a largely neutral palette and flashes of red at the request of the client.
This juxtaposition of colour is something that I conveyed in the choices of planting with Tulipa Rasta Parrot and Hydrangea Paniculata Whims Red both lightly scented starting off in shades of white and green, then turning to deep reds as the seasons progress . A compact multistem flowering cherry tree Prunus Serrula with its glossy copper like bark and interesting form adds permanent structure alongside Ilex Crenata topiary balls in various sizes which are also more pest resistant than perhaps the obvious choice of Buxus. Finally Libertia Grandiflora add texture and height with its light white flowers and evergreen foliage.
Project Completion
Summer 2021
Image References
Photographs: Lis Eriksson
Family Garden Brockley
Starting in the front garden opening the gates, a narrow evergreen hedge has been added at the same height covering the existing neighbouring metal fencing whilst a greenish grey coloured clay paving has been laid leading up to the house. Some greige Cotswold gravel is also introduced where storage big enough to house 6 bicycles alongside a smart the bin store is added. A small standard flowering fruit tree is planted in the middle of the space, such as a cherry or a crab apple anchored by some shade tolerant perennials and ornamental grasses. Still leaving enough room to manoeuvre bikes and bins. Following along from the bin store the same ornamental grasses has been added disguising the existing retaining wall. Whilst existing hedges are tidied up and retained. Walking through the house leading into the kitchen, opening up onto a new clay paver patio mirroring the materials in the front garden. Still large enough for the recently acquired outdoor sofa and chairs. The existing vertical fencing on each side is extended throughout painted a soft greige as a subtle backdrop to the planting whilst echoing the kitchen furniture and bifold door frames.
The low retaining wall on the right has been fixed and the trellis upper of the righthand fencing have been removed giving way for a green screen made from suspended vine eyes covered in shade loving climbers. For both the owners and neighbours to enjoy. A 150mm step down on the right of the patio introduces the main garden following a generous 1200mm wide path again made up of clay pavers surrounded by lush easy to care for mainly perennial borders which will take you through from early spring and late autumn with texture, colour, and scent. Dotted with evergreens and grasses as interest for the winter months. At this point some more flowering fruit trees are also introduced as both multistem and standard, in a sense recreating the orchard that once was to accompany the only remaining pear tree in the centre of the garden.
The garden carries on with subtle level changes reintroducing the gravel from the front garden for each flexible dine / play / lounge zone. Giving it a rhythm and the different areas a sense of place as you make your way through. Each zone is big enough to house the ping pong table whilst feeling intimate enough for a dinner or a morning coffee as they are surrounded by the new borders and trees. The only lawn in the garden surrounds the old pear tree and is a meadow lawn which again is easy to care for only to be cut down in autumn or springtime and perfect for kicking off your shoes and lounging in the attached hammock. The bottom of the garden gives way for the Summer House turned to face away from the main residence for privacy with its own gravel terrace housing a firepit and some comfy seating. There’s also a shed tucked away on the righthand side for garden tools, toys, extra chairs and anything else a family might need.
Project Timeline
TBC
Image References
Concept Plan: Lis Eriksson
Hardscaping & Planting Palette: Outsourced Imagery.
Georgian Queen Anne Residence
Kent
During the design process great care was needed to respect the architectural and historical value of this Grade II* listed early 18th century mansion house, the two acre grounds and its relationship with the local vernacular. Whilst making the flow and use of the garden relevant to 21st century living, connecting the outside space with the ecletic interiors and owners. English Forest Style structure is added with hedging alongside a linden tree avenue whilst the form is kept loose and moderne, leaving pruning to a minimum. With a focus on relaxed formality and a soft tapestry of tonal colours, variations of black, green and the colour of “earth” in hardscaping leads into rich burgundies, creamy yellows, lime and rusty browns in the planting scheme. Grasses are grown en masse or left wild verging on meadowy. The design allows for a "freeing up or tightening" of shape and form over time depending on seasonality and mood. The full scheme includes a Hybrid Natural Pool, Outdoor Kitchen and Sun Terrace, Gravel Garden, Kitchen Garden, Deconstructed Parterre, Serpentine En Masse Grasses Path, Yew Mounds & more.
Project Timeline
TBC
Image References
Birdseye View & Masterplan in Graphite: Lis Eriksson
Concept, Hardscaping & Plant Palette: Outsourced Imagery.
A Nordic Country Garden
Swedish Lapland
This is a concept for a young family living on a 2 acre site in a “New England” style cottage within the most northern region of Scandinavia surrounded by idyllic farm and woodland. The design suggests a relaxed and largely white planting scheme in keeping with the architecture, the clients interior style and the local vernacular. Situated in Zone 6 and covered in snow for most part of the year with short but intense summers the design calls for permanent structure and larger areas that are easy to manage and “put to bed” for the winter. Only to resurrect and flourish in time for traditional midsummer celebrations. Swathes of meadows incorporating native species and orchards surrounded by no mow lawns are introduced forming loose boundaries around the main living areas. Large borders peppered with tall grasses and late flowering perennials frames the view from the generous double height windows that overlooks the garden. A natural pond is initially placed where a pool will be a later addition as the space matures and budget increases. Existing buildings including a garage, shed, dog run and green house all needed to be incorporated in the design as well creating a ha-ha with a sunken deer fence surrounding the grounds keeping hungry fauna at bay.
Project Timeline
TBC
Image Reference
Masterplan in graphite,
Concept Board - Outsourced Imagery.
