Richmond-upon-Thames

Contemporary design and traditional materials elegantly complement the extension to this Grade II-listed Georgian home. The project was a complete redevelopment of the west-facing garden, with only a single tree, a Catalpa bignoides, being retained.

A comprehensive client brief that spanned a large lawned area, a greenhouse, summer house, rose arbour, increased privacy, intimate seating areas and a large terrace needed to integrate seamlessly with access from ground floor living areas. The family’s growing collection of sculpture was also to be accommodated.

Mature evergreen trees were introduced to the north and south boundaries for privacy. Across the west-facing aspect, full standard Carpinus [hornbeam] allowed winter light through to the planting beds. Designed to take the eye down a continuing line of water from the swimming pool, the water rill continues to Gravity, an aluminium and Marquina marble Lorenzo Quinn sculpture. A ten-seater half-moon bench, commissioned from Gaze Burvill, sits at the head of a sequence of rose arbours.

A combination of large single-species block planting - using Buxus, Abelia grandiflora and Choisya - gives impact whilst a combination of Calamagrostis, roses, Hydrangea, Danae and myrtle in the deeper borders bring a looser, more informal feel.

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Aggregates; Brickwork; Carpinus betula; Choisya ternata; Garden houses; Herbaceous border; Ironmongery; Lighting; Magnolia grandiflora; Paving; Quercus ilex; Sculpture; Swimming pool; Trees; Water feature