Family garden of a Redland townhouse radically re-landscaped
After renovation of this Redland townhouse in Bristol, attention turned to a generously sized but under utilised family garden. The over-riding issue to address was access from the internal kitchen-diner to the garden. A narrow area, only a metre in depth, separated the house wall and one metre high retaining garden wall. This greatly impeded access, views and light. The main part of the garden had to be reached via steep, fairly narrow steps. Divided into two levels, the garden had been used by the family for play, storage and dining. The client wanted to open up their interior living space onto the garden whilst also allowing more light into the kitchen-diner. The garden design sought to re-use the garden’s existing materials.
Initially, a new retaining wall positioned much further from the house was constructed and faced with stone from the existing garden walls. A new terrace area was then created sitting level with the interior. This opened the garden up enormously creating more light in the views and a more open atmosphere. The terrace was paved using large slate flags that had been retained from the renovation of the interior. Generously proportioned steps lead you directly up into the garden allowing for a direct route from the house to the upper level of the garden and the garden room that sits to the rear. Raised beds, again faced with the original stone allow for planting which in turn softens the visual impact of the level change. In the upper level of the garden a stepping stone path of slate through granite gravel leads to a garden room, while a lawn gives the children play space.
Planting is structural to compliment the strong lines of the hard landscaping. Two multi-stemmed Amelanchier trees provide an architectural focal point while strong colour from flower, foliage and stem sits beautifully alongside the soft greys of the slate coping and paving.
