Photo credit: www.gardenista.com
A couple in the historic Clifton area of Bristol, UK, envisioned a lively, biodiverse, and eco-friendly garden at their Georgian-style home, where their grandchildren and dogs could play freely. They enlisted the expertise of Artisan Landscapes to help realize this dream. The landscape architecture firm quickly recognized the need to balance the formality of the home’s design with the informal charm desired by the homeowners. The solution involved retaining the classic symmetrical layout of the courtyard and enhancing it with “soft, naturalistic meadow planting,” thereby marrying aesthetics with environmental consciousness.
Let’s take a closer look at this transformative design.
Photography courtesy of Artisan Landscapes.
The landscape architects observed, “Fortunately, the homeowners enjoy both a front and back garden.” This allowed them to dedicate the entire back space for gardening, while the front garden features a spacious lawn perfect for the grandchildren and dogs, alongside a greenhouse and casual vegetable borders that blend seamlessly with perennial flowers. The back garden, while more intimate, is lively and fun, with pathways that excite the grandchildren as they explore.
The centerpiece of the design is the sunken octagonal area, a striking focal point that posed significant installation challenges. According to the architects, “A one-meter-thick layer of limestone bedrock sat underneath, making drainage installation particularly complex.”
Before
Previously, the courtyard owned a sizable space, yet its neglected landscape was far from inspiring, lacking the vibrancy it now possesses.
After
Today, an elegant antique urn serves as a captivating focal point within the lush garden. For those seeking inspiration, additional ideas can be found in articles like “Landscaping: 8 Ideas to Add Antiques Artfully to Any Garden.”
The garden also features a long, slender reflecting pool, one of two prominent water elements within the project. The architects noted that “Together, these water features hold a total of five thousand liters and are managed via remote-control pumps.”
Additionally, the pool’s perimeter is adorned with vibrant salvia, a plant that adds a pop of color and texture. For detailed guidance on growing and caring for salvia, refer to “Salvia: A Field Guide to Planting, Care & Design.”
Source
www.gardenista.com