Townhouse Garden Rochester
Brief
This small townhouse garden was already terraced and had an interesting layout which was angled at 45 degrees to the house. It was however very tired with broken composite decking, a rotting pergola and wood edging, lots of gravel and an uninteresting collection of plants in poor soil which didn’t work all year round. WIth the client’s living room on the first floor overlooking the garden the clients were keen to use lighting so they could enjoy the garden from inside aswell. Screening from the neightbours was also extremely important as the garden is used at all times of the year.
Solution
With a healthy budget for the size of the garden we decided to upgrade the materials to give the space a high end feel with Corten steel for retaining levels and edging and granite paving in both square and plank formats to keep the palette simple but give interest to the design. The highest level was totally removed to create a larger level seating area, part covered with a black painted corner pergola opposite a Corten steel lazer cut panel. Using the technique Shou Sugi Ban the landscapers burnt larch slatts black before building a new back fence and screening around the top level.
The emphasis for the planting was form and texture with large leafed evergreen shrubs and climbers on supports, soft grasses and the odd perennial for some flower colour. Large bamboo in Corten planters close to the house screened the dining area from the neighbours. Bulbs were also added to add interest from early spring right through to the end of the summer.
Lighting was integral to the design. Seating areas were properly lit so they could be used at night and soft uplighting of the planting and garden features, as well as LED strip lighting on the steps, have created a warm inviting atmosphere to the whole garden which the clients abolutely love.
Built by Tattersall Landscapes. Planting by Claire Moreno Garden Design.
