Blackheath, London

In this case my clients came to me as they were about to embark on an architectural extension and relocation of a garage/ garden office. At the same time, although they loved some of the existing shrubs and trees in the mature garden that they had inherited, the hard landscaped areas in particular were not very useful as they were either too small, or would be ruined by the extension. The brief was to create a garden that respected what was good about the existing garden (the good planting), retain a large lawn for their two small boys to play on, but also create a style of garden that reflected the 1920’s house and it’s new timber and rendered extension. As the garden is an awkward triangular shape the challenge was to unite the whole garden at the same time. To do so, I looked at the work of Alvar Aalto to inspire a geometry of radiating curves. This allowed deep planting in places around the lawn while also creating a good large lawn. In the awkward spaces around the rear of the house and in the tight corner at the end of the garden where the trampoline (and one day a hot tub!) is located this geometry is softened up by using feathered paving. Timber edging and vertical timber boarding to the rear of the kitchen will also echo the timber used in the new extension. As well as accommodating the new extension and garage/ office and enlarging the paved area at the rear of the house to accommodate dining for 8 and a garden kitchen, a small sitting area has been introduced underneath a beautiful existing magnolia tree. A new sitting area in the rear corner of the garden has also been created to catch the evening sun. It replaces the shed that was taking up this area, with a dead area behind it. Many of the existing shrubs will be retained in the beds bordering the lawn, but some of the existing shrubs will be taken out as they had grown congested over time. New perennial planting will be introduced throughout to reflect the Japanese feel of the existing planting with Japanese forest grass as well as some airier lighter plants to break up the mass of shrubs.