Gardens Forever

The Brief:

A design and build project with the requirement of creating a family-friendly sanctuary amidst the characteristic urban setting of Castleknock in Dublin. A low-maintenance and child-friendly garden which could be accessed freely year-round. A distinct outdoor space was needed by the family as an eventual extension of the indoor living so the garden could be free flowing without restricting movement.

Bringing out the contemporary flavours in the garden was a necessity given the site aesthetics with unique backdrop of woodland trees which can be uncommon to find in an urban setting. The site also called for an overall balance in hard and soft landscapes hence a good landscape design was required to tie all the features together.

Issues Addressed:

The site was unique in shape with a linear character which needed to be addressed so the eventual outcome is not perceived as monotonous. The house itself was newly built beside the busy Castleknock Road hence addressing the acoustics through landscaping was also a pre-requisite along with a potential ‘dead’ zone to the side of the property.

Design Concept:

The idea was to have a sense of ‘enclosure’ within nature’s embrace, which I believe as the root meaning of an urban garden. This led us to the overall concept of adopting a contemporary style garden as essentially an extension of the indoor functional are a with greenery imbibed into the space. ‘Less is more’was envisioned for the garden with a minimalistic approach supported by a robust planting scheme.

We needed to get the details right so as to address every inch of the outdoor space, including the awkward corners. The basic structuring of the garden was created keeping in mind the site conditions, in order to bring out a mix of unique flavours to be experienced in the garden. In doing so, the cardinal directions with respect to solar movement was used as a guidance when proposing the outdoor areas.

Cleanliness demarcating each and every space were embedded in the design through distinguished use of materials which complement the house exterior to make sure nothing seemed wasted or gratuitous. Green areas of varied scale, colour and textures were proposed based on their location and suitability within the garden keeping in line with the low-maintenance and child-friendly requirements.

Hard Landscaping:

The landscape style followed was more ‘minimalistic’ with a simple layout as far as hard landscaping is concerned, so that the overall space is not perceived as overcomplicated. The main recluse in the form of a semi-covered patio was proposed at the right end corner of the garden which is not only visible but also, easily accessible from the house.

Another open seating area was outlined to catch the last rays of the sun overlooking the planting areas. Natural stone in the form of porcelain were used for all the patio areas since they are sustainable and long lasting, hence has the ‘eco-friendly‘ touch for a residential garden. It was necessary to demarcate the planting area from the lawn and patio areas so granite kerbs were used as line works.

The planting areas had height differences with raised planter beds made of block wall along the western boundary so as to aid in screening from the overlooking road. Elements for shading were introduced in the garden consisting of a metal prefabricated pergola structure for protection during rain which would encourage increased use of the outdoor living space. The use of gravel was strategic, placed only along the side passageways, as both fillers as well as variance in texture and sound.

Soft Landscaping:

The concept of ‘layered planting’ was adopted for the planting palette with a balance between evergreen and perennial species for a best outcome in all seasons. A minimal care regime was also followed when selecting the plants as wanted by the owners. The evergreen shrubs and ‘pleached trees’ were used for privacy and all year-round interest. Elevated planter beds along the south-eastern boundary allowed for the trees to go higher up thus acting as a permeable soft screening as well as a buffer or acoustic dampener from the busy Castleknock road. A mix of Brunnera, Liriope, Hosta, Heuchera and Hakonechloas were used to create interest as ground covers.

Tailored use of Stipas and topiary plants around the patio ensured both low-maintenance and increased green volume. Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ and Acer ‘Blood good’ were used as specimens at occasional distances for coherence and cohesion within the soft landscape. The use of artificial grass reasoned in line with the low-maintenance requirements by the clients thereby maintaining the green footprint within the garden. They also wanted a kids play area that could be used all year round so it was a comprise between design and practicality.

Judges’ Comments:

“This geometric design responds well to the client brief with an uncomplicated palette of materials.”

“Strong and sharp design with a very precise execution. Clever use of a small space.”