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Meadow House Garden Design

AA1_Inked Masterplan

AA1_Inked Masterplan

Aim of the Design:
To create a cheerful, vibrant garden with various ‘rooms’ to sit out, play, and grow edible plants in. It must be relatively low maintenance and safe for young children.

Client and Property:
Meadow House is home to a couple and their two toddler twins. They enjoy gardening and being outside, but have busy schedules. The children are adventurous, love insects and the outdoors. The garden is large, with irregular boundaries in the top left.

There is a garage, annex and two sheds. The vegetable area and trees are to be kept. A patio to the right of the house is being built and will likely have seating. A desire line leads from the side door to the annex area.

Aim of the Design:
To create a cheerful, vibrant garden with various ‘rooms’ to sit out, play, and grow edible plants in. It must be relatively low maintenance and safe for young children.

Client and Property:
Meadow House is home to a couple and their two toddler twins. They enjoy gardening and being outside, but have busy schedules. The children are adventurous, love insects and the outdoors. The garden is large, with irregular boundaries in the top left.

There is a garage, annex and two sheds. The vegetable area and trees are to be kept. A patio to the right of the house is being built and will likely have seating. A desire line leads from the side door to the annex area.

Client needs:
Max 3-4hr maintenance a week
Larger composting area
Safe for young children

Client wants:
Bright colours, maybe a cottage style
Different garden rooms divided with trellis
Larger climbing frame
Pond with frogs
Seating areas, granite patio, pizza oven
Less lawn, herb area, veg area, fruit trees

Budget: Not specified. Site Access: Wide driveway to the south-west. Restrictive Legislation: None known. Boundary Ownership: Unconfirmed.

Client needs:
Max 3-4hr maintenance a week
Larger composting area
Safe for young children

Client wants:
Bright colours, maybe a cottage style
Different garden rooms divided with trellis
Larger climbing frame
Pond with frogs
Seating areas, granite patio, pizza oven
Less lawn, herb area, veg area, fruit trees

Budget: Not specified. Site Access: Wide driveway to the south-west. Restrictive Legislation: None known. Boundary Ownership: Unconfirmed.

Elevation View of Cottage Garden Design

Elevation View of Cottage Garden Design

AA1_Zoomed 2

AA1_Zoomed 2

Isometric view of mandala keyhole raised beds and espalier fruit trees

Isometric view of mandala keyhole raised beds and espalier fruit trees

Woodland patio area garden design

Woodland patio area garden design

Watercolour garden design masterplan with circular motifs and mandala vegetable bed

Watercolour garden design masterplan with circular motifs and mandala vegetable bed

The design for Meadow House has two main concepts: fun and nature. Fun, as the garden should be a safe, stimulating space for children to play in, and a place to relax, eat and grow vegetables. Nature was chosen as the family loves being outside and want an informal garden teeming with colourful flowers and wildlife. These two concepts have been considered throughout the design process, to create a harmonious garden that works as a whole entity.

The design is a series of circles. Straight lines have been avoided as much as possible, as nature tends to meander and spiral. The curves of the garden create different ‘rooms’, each a surprise to discover around the corner. The pergola creates an element of whimsy: as visitors stroll under, the view is partially obscured by the climbing Clematis. At the end of the pergola, visitors are greeted by another expanse of lawn, with a unique playscape, a patio and a woodland area.

The design for Meadow House has two main concepts: fun and nature. Fun, as the garden should be a safe, stimulating space for children to play in, and a place to relax, eat and grow vegetables. Nature was chosen as the family loves being outside and want an informal garden teeming with colourful flowers and wildlife. These two concepts have been considered throughout the design process, to create a harmonious garden that works as a whole entity.

The design is a series of circles. Straight lines have been avoided as much as possible, as nature tends to meander and spiral. The curves of the garden create different ‘rooms’, each a surprise to discover around the corner. The pergola creates an element of whimsy: as visitors stroll under, the view is partially obscured by the climbing Clematis. At the end of the pergola, visitors are greeted by another expanse of lawn, with a unique playscape, a patio and a woodland area.

Circles are also efficient in their use of space, allowing much more to be grown in the raised vegetable beds. A ‘mandala garden’ is made up of keyhole beds – a permaculture design element inspired by patterns in nature, to conserve space and materials (Hemenway, T. 2009). The result is both ecological and beautiful.

Natural play is important in a child’s holistic education. It increases development by allowing children to manage risk and independence, and learn through direct experience within nature. (Houghton, P. and Worrell, J. 2016.) The clients’ young children are already adventurous, so, instead of an average slide and swing set, the garden’s size allows something a little more special. An area with a willow den, tiny tree-stump table and stools, and a climbing frame of organic treated branches complements the informality of the garden landscape.

The naturalistic pond area by the hedgerow attracts frogs and other wildlife. A pond cover is necessary if children are nearby. The elevation illustration shows how a domed pond cover becomes a sculptural focal point, adding to the design instead of detracting from it. A small table and chairs of similar material create unity in the pond area, and allow the wildlife and water to be enjoyed close-up on a sunny day.

Circles are also efficient in their use of space, allowing much more to be grown in the raised vegetable beds. A ‘mandala garden’ is made up of keyhole beds – a permaculture design element inspired by patterns in nature, to conserve space and materials (Hemenway, T. 2009). The result is both ecological and beautiful.

Natural play is important in a child’s holistic education. It increases development by allowing children to manage risk and independence, and learn through direct experience within nature. (Houghton, P. and Worrell, J. 2016.) The clients’ young children are already adventurous, so, instead of an average slide and swing set, the garden’s size allows something a little more special. An area with a willow den, tiny tree-stump table and stools, and a climbing frame of organic treated branches complements the informality of the garden landscape.

The naturalistic pond area by the hedgerow attracts frogs and other wildlife. A pond cover is necessary if children are nearby. The elevation illustration shows how a domed pond cover becomes a sculptural focal point, adding to the design instead of detracting from it. A small table and chairs of similar material create unity in the pond area, and allow the wildlife and water to be enjoyed close-up on a sunny day.

The teardrop-shaped beds are repeated to give balanced bursts of colour along the main path. Flowers of yellow, orange, pink and blue create a cheerful colour palette. Areas of wildlife planting incorporate similar colours of flower, to simplify the design, though these will be more native and local species. The wildlife area includes bird baths, feeders, log piles and more, to create a haven for bees, birds, and maybe even hedgehogs! Walls with inbuilt insect houses act as interesting features, also obscuring any parts of the wild planting that are particularly wild.

The trees at the back of the garden create the perfect area for woodland planting of shade tolerant perennials and spring bulbs like snowdrops and bluebells, which once more add colour and attract pollinators. Overall, the design creates a nature-inspired garden that is cheerful, playful and enjoyable for all the family.

The teardrop-shaped beds are repeated to give balanced bursts of colour along the main path. Flowers of yellow, orange, pink and blue create a cheerful colour palette. Areas of wildlife planting incorporate similar colours of flower, to simplify the design, though these will be more native and local species. The wildlife area includes bird baths, feeders, log piles and more, to create a haven for bees, birds, and maybe even hedgehogs! Walls with inbuilt insect houses act as interesting features, also obscuring any parts of the wild planting that are particularly wild.

The trees at the back of the garden create the perfect area for woodland planting of shade tolerant perennials and spring bulbs like snowdrops and bluebells, which once more add colour and attract pollinators. Overall, the design creates a nature-inspired garden that is cheerful, playful and enjoyable for all the family.

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