Putting the finishing touches on the garden. The Indian paving contrast well with the raised sleeper beds. The gravel beds within the paved areas are great for grasses and herbs and the client has introduced his own chimera for keeping warm on chilly evenings!
The planting includes three varigated phormium as well as three small trees (to help create privacy): acer 'Bloodgood', cotoneaster cornubia and a small rowan. These tree provide beautiful autumn colour as well as berries for the birds.
In this small inner-city Manchester garden the yard is taking shape.
Here we can see the natural stone paving (Indian Stone) is going down.
Several large planting pockets are being left within the paved areas, mainly for herbs and small grasses. The original mature bamboo is being left to create some privacy for the small dinging area behind.
All in all we should be finished next week.... we start installing the lighting and plants on Monday/Tuesday.
This has to be one of the smallest gardens we have built for a while.........in sunny inner-city Manchester
The garden ('backyard' rather) measures a mere 4m x 6m with access via a small cobbled service road at the back of the row of terraced house
Our client wants to create a semi private, relaxing oasis in the midst of a bustling city..a place to unwind and entertain.
First task is to move the bike shed and this means making a new concrete base. The shed has to be moved because our client has identified the spot it currently occupies as catching late afternoon/ early evening sun.
Second task is to build some timber sleeper retaining walls to help define the plant areas. This will allow the soil level to be built up....allowing new root systems to be well drained.
The next job is to re-build the leaning (and slightly dangerous) brick wall with the new gate aperture moved across to allow for a new, hardwood 'L-shaped' bench to be built for eating out.
We are hoping to finish this smallish scheme within the next two weeks (weather permitting!) Keep checking in for progress.=
The Well Designed Deck (a new post after a rather long break!)
1 comments Posted by David Andersen at Sunday, May 15, 2011
It is often the way that homeowners tend to build the most basic of decks with little or no thought to design. The truth is, that a well designed deck need cost no more to realise than a basic square or rectangular shape.
The deck illustrated here has a circular theme. It is true that some time needs to be devoted to calculating the tapered deck boards, and the neat stone circle included to 'start off' the ccircular design, but the deck has so much more style and 'wow' factor than would otherwise be the case.
This deck has been constructed from treated softwood.(available from B&Q etc) with the grooved pattern on the underside. The treated softwood joists extend out concentrically form the centre at 50cm intervals and are constructed as octagonal shapes to support the timber deckboards.
The clever addition here (by the clients) of a circular table adds to the sense of style.Just a quick update on what's been going on since the last blog. With summer just beginning and warmer weather on its way (we hope!), we've been keeping busy with designing and building for lots of new clients. We’ve been working particularly hard on a garden design for a large ‘custom-built’ contemporary house. We’ve also done a little commercial work and several other large family gardens. An important consideration in family gardens is the incorporation of an area for the kids and an adult space for entertaining on a summer evening!
The idea of long summer evenings got us thinking about enjoying the garden after dark all year round (an important factor in contemporary garden design is that it can look just as stunning in summer or winter due to lighting placement and the architectural qualities of a contemporary design). So, when a client suggested that they might want a summerhouse from which to enjoy the garden on a cooler evening (let’s face it, without a firepit, heater or several blankets it’s not often warm enough to sit out all evening!) it got us started trawling the web for inspiration. One solution that came up was a high quality shed (don’t let the word shed put you off!). More affordable than an expensive new conservatory, yet they are still stylish and contemporary (we were impressed by a company called ‘Decorated Shed’).
If you don’t want to go as far a custom built shed, another option is a firepit. Firepits can either be free standing or built into the ground. Many of our designs incorporate firepits, with this one (with firepit built into the hardwood decking) being our favourite.
Anyway, hopefully the weather will stay warm for just a bit longer! It helps so much for the garden builds.
Gardens for Relaxation and Meditation
3 comments Posted by David Andersen at Tuesday, April 13, 2010
I find increasingly that my clients are requesting a garden ( or a space within the garden) to relax….de-stress…or even meditate.
If we go back to one of the main principles of Japanese garden design we find that one of the most important reasons for a garden to exist would to create a sense of calm, indeed for the user to be at one with his/her surroundings in a spiritual sense. (See Frantisek Staud's photos of the Zen gardens in Kyoto - http://www.phototravels.net/kyoto/zen-gardens-index.html)
The design principles contained in the ancient Indian philosophy of Sthapatya Veda (which predate both Chinese and Japanese doctrines) direct all architects and garden designers in the direction of working in tune with natural law. Very precise principles are laid down in terms of symmetry, orientation, the use of specific herbs and plants etc…..all with the aim of creating balance and calmness within the minds and body of the user. Indeed the ultimate aim of enlightenment or spiritual self-realisation seems at the basis of the design philosophies. (see Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s interpretation of Stapathya Veda)
Q : So…how best can we use and indeed interpret some of these ideas in our own gardens ?
A : Usually I would suggest to a client wanting a meditative garden some of the following :
1 A simple interpretation of the space: this means, basically, few elements to the garden and used in a non ‘busy’ or over fussy way. For example, planting can be limited to a few species to create a calming effect.
2 Simple, clean lines: ……spaces divided up with good,strong geometry.
In the example to the right, we used a simple sleeper walkway meandering through a garden space. The walkway forms a perfect ‘S’ shape when viewed from above, but links the house, garden and summerhouse.
3 Use natural materials where necessary: This same garden was constructed with hardly any concrete or other unnatural materials. We used the simple elements of: timber, water and stone and chose plants carefully to help create a sense of harmony.
4 Use water: The use of water, whether still or moving, can have a very calming and therapeutic effect on the garden user. Both the sound of running water and the play of light on the reflective surface of a still pool can be calming.
5 Use of plants : using plants which are fragrant (some herbs and flowers have a soothing type of fragrance, for example lemon, lavender and mango - as illustrated by the widespread use of aromatherapy) Some plants are soothing because they move in the breeze (e.g. ornamental grasses such as miscanthus, bamboo etc) Some plants, of course, are reflective just because they look so awesome !
6 Sustainability: The very essence of sustainable gardening has of course been around since creation began (living in tune with our natural environment). The delights of birdsong or the mere presence of other living creatures can have an instant therapeutic effect.
I remember a few years ago trying to finish a garden off to a deadline, as the client’s were due back from holiday. The garden was in a rural setting and featured a new, large wildlife-type pond, I was finishing off the last of the planting down by the water’s edge and feeling (bizzarely) somewhat stressed! Suddenly, a stunning damselfly fluttered by and settled on the surface of the water. All at once I felt a sudden inner calm...as if nothing in the world mattered and that everything in the newly created scheme had been worthwhile! I felt instantly connected to everything that really was really important in the universe…something that is so easy to forget in the hurly-burly of everyday life.
Decking Experts - Homes and Gardens Magazine
2 comments Posted by David Andersen at Monday, March 08, 2010
We have just been featured in this months (April 2010) edition of Homes and Gardens magazine.
The article gave expert advice on the usage of garden decking and its 'eco credentials'. They also printed a photograph of one of our designs (hardwood deck with seating and circular fire pit).
Great to see it in print!
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