Our Design Process
Understanding the site
This is our starting point. When presented with an open plot, we take the time to thoroughly assess the space. How might it be used? What do we envision? We also consider the practicalities of the site, including access, enclosures etc. These questions help generate initial ideas and from there we create drawings and sketches, often leading to further questioning and exploration. It is a highly iterative process.
Layout and Plans
Our sketches then evolve into concrete ideas, and detailed scale plans are created to accurately convey the project's scope and purpose. We encourage our clients to actively participate in this process, ensuring a strong collaborative foundation for the work.
Planting Design and Border Development
Structural elements of planting design, such as tree focal points, screening and hedging, are identified in the layout and planning stage. Each border is crafted with its own unique character. We will consider elements such as contrasts in forms and texture, how foliage interacts with light, and colour relationships throughout the season. Borders are designed to adapt and evolve over time, with ongoing maintenance needed to ensure their beauty and vitality.
Journeys and Pathways
We aim to make the journey through a garden as joyous and delightful as the destinations within it. Paths serve as the backbone of a garden, providing direction and purpose. They guide the visitor through and towards the highlights of a garden. Pathways are often not linear but will meander gracefully through the space.
Entrances, Features, Focal Points and Perspectives
A focal point can be any view, opening or objects that draws the visitor's attention. The garden will frame these points of interest, allowing the designer to suggest scale and perspective. This can make a small garden feel larger or bing a sense of intimacy and safety to a large open space. Gardens are inherently playful, human crafted interaction with nature. Elements like a sculpture or water feature can captivate and engage the senses and curiosity of the visitor.
Stolen Views
Views which extend beyond a garden boundary can create a sense of boundlessness, fostering feelings of optimism and enchantment. These views could be a distant spire, a majestic tree on the horizon, or a glimpse of the ocean. These views can become fantastic focal points, and a well-designed garden will use these features to its fullest.
Sculpture, Ironwork and Styling
The human touch is essential in good garden design. Successful design will create space where elements like sculpture and ironwork work in harmony with the natural surroundings. The styling often takes cues from the architecture of the house, or other buildings, creating a seamless relationship. A great garden is a work of arts; tying together the human made elements with the natural world.