Contemporary 'secret garden', Bristol
The Brief and my Design
The space was an area that needed designing at the bottom of the existing garden. The client lived here with his young daughter. He wanted me to create a ‘secret garden’ that would be a peaceful and tranquil place that they could enjoy together. He also wanted it to be a memorial garden for his late wife.
Keeping the design simple was key. I decided to use Sapele hardwood for the boundary as this would not only look stunning now but would weather beautifully over time.
The client wanted a water feature and I suggested that if it had water flowing into it would sound relaxing as well as help mask the sound from the neighbouring film studio.
Large bespoke planters were designed; these can often help a small space look larger.
The focal point of the garden was a metal fabricated panel. I worked closely with the client so that I could create a design that meant something important for him and his wife. We collated several ideas then my final design was laser cut and the panel was painted to the exact RAL colour the client wanted.
A specimen Acer tree was put in one of the large planters. It was under planted with Hakonechloa grasses and uplight.
How the garden looked before:
We installed a lighting scheme that would help enhance the space in the evenings and a heater that the client could sit under if it got cold.
"...and so just sat reading, sound of water and the lights slowly taking effect was so relaxing." Rob
