Contemporary Water-Garden and Pathways of Sedum and Gravel in Golders Hill, North London.

The owners of a contemporary house built in the early 2000’s decided to renovate and update throughout, add a gym and ceramics studio in the garden to create their ideal ‘Forever’ home.  They wanted a revised contemporary garden with a linear layout to reflect the house, pathways through naturalistic, soft, vibrant planting, (no topiary, low hedging or ‘solid’ shrubs), a pond and lots of interesting places to nestle their African sculpture and plenty of space for relaxation and entertainment.

This garden was extremely challenging as the access was shared with the House Main Contractor and was at the end of a narrow driveway, too big for a skip lorry, so all materials in and waste out had to be ‘’hand-balled’’ into the site and coordinated not only with the Main contractor, but also the neighbours as the access was flanked on all approaches by driveways.

Golders Green North London Garden Design

The rear garden was designed as a modern, balanced parterre with pathways and beds that line up to the glass doors to anchor long views, which lead to dog leg paths creating a circuitous route throughout. Generous terraces stone and timber terrace combine crisp, gleaming, green-grey Scottish Schist paving, millimetre  perfect setting out and laying of this stone was required so that all lined up and joints adjusted to enhance the symmetry and crisp finish. With sustainable Kebony decking which is reflected on the facades of the house, gym and studio drawing together the buildings and the garden. 
  
A large, natural pond, fabricated from overlaid and bonded sections of powder coated aluminium is hidden in the successful water planting.  
 
Crunchy aggregate paths are studded with paving and Sedum/grass pockets and the Kebony boardwalk floats over boggy planting.  Heavy duty 4mm aluminium retaining beds matching the door and window frames of the house retains levels and steps, all are softened by the multi-stem Osmanthus, Cercis, Cornus, Prunus and Acers provide three-dimensional interest.  A pair of calm, L’ shaped Pratia pedunculata lawns provide a contrast with a planting of grasses and perennials in rich oranges, burgundies and purples in constant motion.

Strict, linear geometry gives way to a gently curving. hoggin path around the house through replanted tree ferns, small Phormiums and lush, verdant planting leading to the front drive. Edges in a reclaimed granite sett and infilled with sustainable Resin Bound material to help keep excessive rain run-off out of the sewage system and back into the earth. Hand made Kebony gates and screens used from left-over decking off cuts, cleverly screen the bins and allow for pedestrian access.

Overall this is a fresh, geometric garden with a surprising amount of hardscapes, that required a lot of head scratching to achieve the correct flow of levels and sharpness, all beautifully anchored and concealed with the stunning, wispy planting for year round interest.

Photographs:  Matthew Gilbert
Designer: Lynne Marcus Garden Design.
Contractor: The Garden Builders.