Sunken Town Garden

The Brief

Inspiration was needed in a tired lifeless concrete yard! A near blank canvas gave ourselves and the client the chance to hone a design which did not feel alien to its surroundings in the centre of town and still to have plenty of rustic features and character.

The Concept

A sunken garden idea was the centre of the design and natural stone walls give the feeling of the outdoor room we wanted to create. In the sunken garden there is space to relax under the wooden pergola and to also come further out into the sun. The aim was for this area to be versatile and be able to accommodate entertaining different numbers of friends and family with space for outdoor cooking, dining etc.

There are some really strong geometric shapes in this design, particularly the staggered natural stone wall which cuts through the garden creating the different areas and planting cavity. The blend of sandstone patio was chosen to complement the natural stone walling but not to directly match it. Together they continue the neutral scheme and let the feature planting really stand out for the burst of colour.

Moving up the garden there’s a fantastic broken pathway alongside the plants and up to the upper patio made from reclaimed materials. It’s a snug spot for catching that morning sun and to have a morning coffee close to the house, overlooking the planting directly in front.

The planting scheme is still very raw in these photos. Although bearing in mind these photos are taken in early January it is nice to see that evergreen backdrop which will fill out and provide the lush canopy year-round which we wanted. More seasonal shrubs like Cotinus will provide a rich contrast in colour to look forward too, whilst the seasonal perennials will be stunning over the spring and summer, look out for updated photos!

A big thank you E, our best Yarden to date and lots of fun along the way.

Location: Carlisle