Client: Private
Year Completed: 2015
Size: 860 sqm
Location: Surbiton

These clients longed for a touch of the Alps and a reminder of Pakistan too, so the unusual brief has resulted in a unique and fascinating garden.

For the front garden, we sourced huge rocks from a quarry in Horsham. Together with some carefully chosen conifers and a bespoke wooden water trough, this once boring front garden was transformed into a fun and welcoming space for the family. The clients are keen plant collectors so the garden is packed with native orchids, edelweiss and unusual plants which they love.

The brief was to include useful plants wherever possible therefore we included many edibles. The screening trees are espalier plums and apples and even the lawn is species rich so it benefits wildlife. The bespoke shed has a green roof so that every possible surface is covered with greenery. New semi mature trees were planted to create screening between the clients garden and their neighbour.

In autumn there are colourful leaves and grasses; in winter brightly coloured stems catch the low sunlight.

By dividing the garden up and creating layers of interest, the garden now feels much larger and there is also plenty of space for vegetables, fruit and herbs. Routes around the garden encourage exploration and the deck and stream provide an interesting destination throughout the year.

The clients wanted to include a colourful rickshaw for the children to play in and a Jula (swinging day bed). The sunniest part of the garden was made into a flowing flower filled ‘river’ surrounding a deck and beautiful woven sculpture which formed a cover for the day bed. A stream with log stepping stones and a log water fall created the sound of running water to complete this relaxing area of the garden.