Northumberland Road

Context:
Medium city garden, full sun/part shade, adult family.

Brief:
“I need a good reason to step out of my house and into the garden, and can you make that brick wall disappear?”

Concept:
Semi-formal planting, and use of natural materials are combined in a clever contemporary design, that harmonises with the building’s Georgian architecture. Strong formal framework of rendered low retaining walls, connect a new modern house extension to the garden, and sunken patio entertainment zone. A prominent curved feature wall and water cascade creates an inviting and dramatic focal point, and reduces the dominance of the rear brick wall, which is further screened by tall bamboo.

Key elements:
Sunken granite flag patio, feature wall with bespoke glass art water cascade, customised blue mosaic table and seat, reclaimed brick storage units, architectural evergreen planting.

Key plants:
Architectural/specimen/accent
Agave americana – American aloe
Chamaerops humilis – Dwarf fan palm
Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’ – Irish yew
Evergreen/screen
Phyllostachys vivax f. aureocaulis – Golden Chinese timber bamboo Foliage/flower/groundcover
Geranium ‘Anne Thompson’ – Geranium ‘Anne Thompson’
Rodgersia pinnata ‘Superba’ – Rodgersia ‘Superba’
Vinca minor ‘Argenteovariegata’ – Lesser periwinkle ‘Argenteovariegata’
Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘Crowborough’ – Arum lily ‘Crowborough’
Texture/movement/seed head
Carex elata ‘Aurea’ – Bowles’ golden sedge