The owners of this property had bought the site for its stunning views across the Chilterns. A new family house was being built, and Christine Whatley designed a garden that would unite the house and landscape.
The views are everything in this site, so the garden needed to complement the surrounding landscape without competing. Christine's design used simple curves inspired by the distant landforms, spreading out from the house to anchor the building to the land.
The planting was integral to the design right from the initial concept. The curving banks that emanate from the house are planted with low textural planting such as grasses, that blend with the surrounding fields. Beech hedges, at one with the local woodlands, and Himalayan Birch form a strong architectural screen from the drive whilst still allowing views out to a neighbouring meadow.
From the terrace one can look out across the valley, framed by the existing apple trees below a ha-ha like retaining wall. To either side the curves sweep out inducing a false perspective that suggests the garden extends further out into the landscape beyond.
CONTACT
TEL
Christine Whatley
+44 (0)1380 830262
design@sylvanstudio.co.uk
