A neglected space transformed Into a Fusion of Urban Contemporary and Country Courtyard Style Garden
Location: St Mary’s Grove, Islington N1
Small back garden in Islington 100sq m
Consultation and Brief:
The current property at St Marys Grove was built on the site of a large Victorian detached house that had been bombed during WWII.
The clients had recently finished a total refurbishment of their house and when we met on site it was clear that the builders hadn’t given much thought to the outside. The garden had been left to its own devices and was unusable.
Not only were the clients experiencing some problems with outside drainage, they had also been left with an ugly retaining wall to look at. It had been built in haste and was far too close to the
house.
The garden sits on a small plot of land and the illconceived positioning of this retaining wall made the space feel even more cramped and repressive. The clients longed for an outdoor space to spend time in. Dreaming of a summer filled with entertaining and family barbecues.
Garden Design Implementation:
In its current configuration the space immediately outside the kitchen doors was a dead zone. It had no function other than to make the garden feel claustrophobic. We removed the builder’s retaining wall and pushed it back into the garden to create a usable space. We created a patio area near to the kitchen and enough space for an outdoor sofa.
The upper level of the garden was divided into zones. We designed a pergola for privacy but also to create height to give an illusion of space. Even though the garden was small the clients wanted a bit of lawn for their dog so we incorporated this into the initial sketch plans.
A row of Amelanchier trees elegantly divides the lower and upper levels of this garden.
The initial stages of the build involved excavating the ground which revealed the bombed out remains of the Victorian house. We meticulously cleared the ground in preparation for the new wall foundations and for the fresh new soil for the soft landscaping
Planting style for this garden was soft, romantic and whimsical. We chose a palette of non-capricious plants in soft colours of purples, pinks and blues on a backbone of reliable evergreens and perennial grasses.
Materials:
Grey sawn sandstone, pencil edged coping stones, Salvia Vande Moortel clay paver steps, paths and edgings, feather edge softwood panel and horizontal slatted panel fencing, softwood pergola.
Planting:
Trees: Amelanchier lamarckii
Shrubs and climbers: Hydrangea, Nepeta, Pittosporum, Lavandula ‘ hidcote’, Nandina, Trachelopsermum and Lonicera, Rosa ‘Queen of Sweden’
Grasses and Ferns: Miscanthus ‘Kleine Silberspinne’, Hakonechloa macra
Perennials: Geranium, Astrantia ‘Roma, Salvia ‘Caradonna’, Salvia ‘Schneehugel’, Geum ‘Borisii’, Agastache, Gaura
Location: St Mary’s Grove, Islington N1
Small back garden in Islington 100sq m
Consultation and Brief:
The current property at St Marys Grove was built on the site of a large Victorian detached house that had been bombed during WWII.
The clients had recently finished a total refurbishment of their house and when we met on site it was clear that the builders hadn’t given much thought to the outside. The garden had been left to its own devices and was unusable.
Not only were the clients experiencing some problems with outside drainage, they had also been left with an ugly retaining wall to look at. It had been built in haste and was far too close to the
house.
The garden sits on a small plot of land and the illconceived positioning of this retaining wall made the space feel even more cramped and repressive. The clients longed for an outdoor space to spend time in. Dreaming of a summer filled with entertaining and family barbecues.
Garden Design Implementation:
In its current configuration the space immediately outside the kitchen doors was a dead zone. It had no function other than to make the garden feel claustrophobic. We removed the builder’s retaining wall and pushed it back into the garden to create a usable space. We created a patio area near to the kitchen and enough space for an outdoor sofa.
The upper level of the garden was divided into zones. We designed a pergola for privacy but also to create height to give an illusion of space. Even though the garden was small the clients wanted a bit of lawn for their dog so we incorporated this into the initial sketch plans.
A row of Amelanchier trees elegantly divides the lower and upper levels of this garden.
The initial stages of the build involved excavating the ground which revealed the bombed out remains of the Victorian house. We meticulously cleared the ground in preparation for the new wall foundations and for the fresh new soil for the soft landscaping
Planting style for this garden was soft, romantic and whimsical. We chose a palette of non-capricious plants in soft colours of purples, pinks and blues on a backbone of reliable evergreens and perennial grasses.
Materials:
Grey sawn sandstone, pencil edged coping stones, Salvia Vande Moortel clay paver steps, paths and edgings, feather edge softwood panel and horizontal slatted panel fencing, softwood pergola.
Planting:
Trees: Amelanchier lamarckii
Shrubs and climbers: Hydrangea, Nepeta, Pittosporum, Lavandula ‘ hidcote’, Nandina, Trachelopsermum and Lonicera, Rosa ‘Queen of Sweden’
Grasses and Ferns: Miscanthus ‘Kleine Silberspinne’, Hakonechloa macra
Perennials: Geranium, Astrantia ‘Roma, Salvia ‘Caradonna’, Salvia ‘Schneehugel’, Geum ‘Borisii’, Agastache, Gaura
“Seb, Kate and the team did an amazing job on my garden. They are professional, efficient and go above and beyond in their level of service. I would highly recommend!”
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Our award-winning landscape garden designers transform outdoor spaces into beautiful places in which to relax & entertain, across Essex, Suffolk, London & the UK.
Landspace Design UK Ltd
Phone
0845 805 1394
