Garden Design News
I have just received word that this project I designed a couple of years ago is to be featured in an upcoming international book on Landscape Design. The book is to be published a little later this year and I will post a blog when it comes out. In the meantime here's a recap on the project:
Greenfield Garden Design Project By David Keegan Garden Design
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| Redesigned front garden area Greenfield garden design project David Keegan Garden Design |
Project
Greenfield Saddleworth
Garden.
Hardiness
Zone
The plot is located in UK hardiness zone 8
Site conditions
An overgrown and somewhat dated gardens both front and back. 2 lots of
steps leading to the front entrance neither of which were well constructed or
inviting. Also a steep slope to the rear garden area presented a winter hazard.
The back garden was somewhat run down but some very nice riven York stone
slabs. Although the garden seemed to contain a very large lawn this was not in
fact part of the property, but strangely enough was on loan from a property
developer. In actuality the garden boundary was just to the rear of wood store
area. No clearly defined boundary to the area where climbing frame was located.
Before pics; a few views of the gardens when I first visited
Client’s needs
The clients desired a space that had a more grown up feel and one that
was more usable and acted as an extension to the home. They also wanted some
form of terrace, seating area, to replace the climbing from as this spot in the
garden was ideal to catch the early evening sunshine. A new wood store was also
on the brief along with a new fence and gate of some description to replace the
trellis fence and gate that separated the front and back garden areas. They wanted some form of usable social area
close to the new contemporary glass extension they had recently had installed.
The front needed to be simplified with the entryway and steps redesigned to
make more easily and safety usable. They were not sure if they wanted to keep a
lawn in the front garden. The clients also wanted some element of art in the
space but were open to how this might be interpreted whether through a water
feature or a focal piece.
And some pictures of the garden once redesigned
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| Landscape design project following redesign |
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| New sating and dining platform joins the inner kitchen levels for a seamless connection between garden and home. |
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| Summer colour in raised beds in the redesigned gardens |
Design intent
From the outset my feeling were that the rear garden area lacked any sense
of colour and as such was not an inviting proposition. Equally the step down
from the door to outside level made the space feel that bit more awkward and
detached. By designing in a deck to run level with the internal floor level I
intended to make the space more accessible and the addition of raised beds
allowed me to introduce colour and intimacy by making the area around the house
feel more connected to the living space. The irregular hit and miss screen to
the side allowed privacy without making the space feel cut off or closed in.
The introduction of hazel hurdle fencing to parts of the boundary further
softens and gives the gardens a more authentic and natural feel that is in
keeping with its location. I also wanted to find a way to connect the side area
and gate to the steps up to what was a studio. I had in mind some form of
ornate iron work as this would also answer the need for a sculptural element to
the garden. This was the interpretation of sculpture is integrated into the
scheme as opposed to merely sitting in it, offering function form and style.
I commissioned a sculpture artisanal blacksmith I had worked with on
previous projects (David Freedman) to turn the idea to a usable and functional
form. The use of Asplenium leaf as panel motif was to my mind a master stroke
on his part, forming the back drop to the fern/woodland garden created to the
side area, between rear and front gardens.
Wanting to create a series of themes for the various spaces and seeing
that the front area was never used other than to mow the patch of grass I felt
this was an opportunity to create a space that paid some small homage to the
langue of the local landscape in the High Peaks whilst also making it more
inviting.. The concept, to create a dwarf pine dry river bed garden to include
a small terrace for a table and chairs. A new lollipop boundary fence was
installed and painted in a pale apple green and fore planted with Photinia Red
robin to add year round colour. A variety of dwarf pines and silver foliaged
plants add form colour and contour. An old chimney pot from the house was
salvaged and used as a focal Point. The clients were at first sceptical of this
concept not knowing how it would look but in its completion love it. On a clear
sunny day it enjoys views of the peaks.
Project description
Distinctly themed garden areas that draw the user and the eyes into the
space. Natural stone walls with stone copings create and intimate dining space
and connect the house to the gardens. A new boundary fence demarcates the
gardens and offers more privacy. Acers, alliums, lavenders roses’ and sage add
colour and scent acting as a colourful backdrop to the extension whilst also
adding interest and invite to the path from the front garden. Low level ferns
campanula and woodland plants add low level interest to the newly formed steps
and raised bed while also lightening the area from its previous overgrown
state. A newly designed wood store with cedar shingle roof along with the hazel
hurdle fence add to the naturalistic aesthetic whilst the sculpture fence and
gate add year round interest and sense of playful spontaneity to the space.
A front dry river bed garden planted with a variety of dwarf pines, and
framed with Photinia, somehow make this area feel rooted into the wider
landscape seeming as it does to breach the boundary between the two.
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| Bespoke garden gate inspired by the leaves of Harts Tongue fern |
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| New raised bed and garden screen |
Environmental responsibility
All existing stone was integrated into the design and reused with wall
stone and copings sourced from a local stone yard. Hazel hurdle was also
sourced from local supplier. American yellow pines was used for all timber work
offering as it does the most sustainable alternative to tropical hardwoods or
tantalised softwoods.
Designer’s role
To liaise with clients thought design process and to liaise with and
commission sculpture. Liaise with landscapers and clients throughout the
instillation of the project and to source supply and plant plans as per plant
lists and schedules.
You can contact David Keegan Garden Design directly by clicking this link
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