Cambridge Garden

A Georgian style house with a garden that balances both the traditional and contemporary.

The intention with the corten steel circle was to create a subtle focal point when you walked in through the front door, and caught a glimpse through the house all the way into the garden .
The intention with the corten steel circle was to create a subtle focal point when you walked in through the front door, and caught a glimpse through the house all the way into the garden.
Stage 1

The Brief

Our client was undertaking a subtle renovation of her home, to add a more contemporary kitchen with Critall doors opening out into the garden. Our brief was to create a garden that enticed the owner and her sons out into the garden, to use the whole space throughout the year, retaining the central conifer, Acer dissectum atropurpureum, Magnolia and winter flowering Viburnum.

Stage 2

Design and Build

Our aim was to maximise the size of the garden, and create layers of planting, closer to the house that allowed for a subtle separation from the lawn, and gave the client some dappled shade to sit under. We introduced large poured floating concrete landings and steps, to tie in architecturally with the micro cement finish to the new extension, and to gently lead you down into the garden across the new hardwood deck, that runs the full width of the house. This had to be carefully considered, as it was over an existing basement, and required re-water proofing and improved drainage. We used subtle accents of Corten steel in the garden, including the Moon Gate, that formed a focal point, and drew you down to a central circular path around the existing conifer, and into a new woodland we created using Silver Birch trees.

The Corten moongate appears as if it about to roll along the edge of the circular path. It provides a focal point and practical entry point between the more formal part of the garden and the wilder woodland.
The Corten moongate appears as if it about to roll along the edge of the circular path. It provides a focal point and practical entry point between the more formal part of the garden and the wilder woodland.
The rear section of the garden has been turned into a small woodland with 8 newly planted Betula doorenbos, underplanted with Cornus Midwinter Fire, Digitalis Lutea, Anemathele, ferns and woodland bulbs.
The rear section of the garden has been turned into a small woodland with 8 newly planted Betula doorenbos, underplanted with Cornus Midwinter Fire, Digitalis Lutea, Anemathele, ferns and woodland bulbs.
Stage 3

Finished Project

The staggered yew and beech hedging with domes, create wonderful structure in the winter, with a mix of evergreen grasses and perennials to balance the forms. In Spring the existing Magnolia now flourishes as the protagonist, before the rest of the garden comes fully to life. The Corten steel is picked up with accents of burnt and apricot orange in the planting such as Geum Totally Tangerine, Eremerus Cleopatra, Rosa Lady of Shalott, and the choice of furniture reflects this also. Our client now has garden benches carefully placed to enjoy different spots during the seasons, where she will read and contemplate. The new wide decked area also serves perfectly for entertaining.

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The pleached hornbeam trees and Prunus Avium Plena provide screening and some dappled shade on the south facing deck. The clipped shapes of the hedging are softened by the seasonal herbaceous perennials and grasses.
An intimate view taken on a long lens across the length of the garden, revealing the balancing forms and textures of the planting.
Bringing the planting closer to the house allows for a more sheltered, intimate seating area to entertain or have a peaceful morning coffee. The floating poured concrete steps tie in architecturally with the facade of the remodelled extension.
Bringing the planting closer to the house allows for a more sheltered, intimate seating area. The corten planters wrap around hidden light wells into the basement, and conceal the roof lining.
The shadow gaps designed into the concrete landings and steps, create a lightweight feel that make them appear to be floating above their foundation. The textured patina of the corten planter ties in with the old brickwork on the house.
A long lens view through from the woodland to the house facade and patio, with staggered hedging and topiary for seasonal interest.
Carefully balanced shapes and forms are a key design feature in the garden, and give it a sense of maturity. The vertical element provided by the Prunus avium trees makes the space feel bigger by adding height and 3 dimensionality.
The trees provide some screening from the immediate neighbours windows, The floating concrete steps tie in architecturally with the micro-cement finish to the house extension.
A birds eye view of the garden from the first floor, showing the staggered linear design of the poured concrete stepping stones, balanced by the stepped hedging and planting.
A view of the garden before we began work, showing the mostly blank canvas we had to begin the design.
The original house and kitchen extension felt quite uninviting and needed anchoring within the garden, the patio area wasnÕt a particularly pleasant spot to sit.
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Photos by Nick Guttridge