The term walled garden has a very romantic appeal… in the country. In town, it rings like a nightmare. Feeling boxed in is a real no no, especially when you have limited space. And a lack of light will take away any pleasure from using the space.
That is why I found this design, created by Maria Örnberg and Gavin Goldwyer of Greenlines Home & Garden Ltd, brilliant.
They have also mastered the art of going minimalist without transforming the space into a clinically perfect magazine showroom. By the way, she refers to planters by Urbis, a UK-based studio offering very beautiful pots, planters and benches in variations of concrete. Definitely look them up.
From the designers:
The client was looking for a low maintenance, elegant treatment of the space delivering stunning all season views from bedroom and lounge, whilst improving privacy from the surrounding tower blocks.
The Challenges
We had a very major need to mitigate the enormous imposition of the 5-metre high walls surrounding this basement garden whilst retaining light.Greenlines Home & Garden’s Solution
The lounge-view feature wall was clad in slate, with Urbis planters introducing a stylish architectural strength between espaliered prunus.We decided on a vertical garden for the bedroom view. A monoculture planting of liriope gives the effect of a green waterfall, especially with the wind howling.
Western Red Cedar trellising provides the vital screening atop the wall. Our interest with this design was in the juxtaposition between vertical and horizontal, expressed in liriope, slate and Balau hardwood evident in both aspects.
The planting palette is restricted to five genera, lending a calming, restive continuity to the garden. We added two Acers with a view to creating seasonal interest, with the repetition of the ‘Oshikanawa’ enhancing formality.
The garden is strongly under lit to emphasizing both mass and architectural strengths.
What the garden looked like before:
Sarah (@mochasarah) on 02.23.2011 at 14:57 PM
What a beautiful design! I love the mix of materials and colours – the cool grey contrasted with the warm wood.
Some elements of the design might also work well on a balcony.
Jon on 02.25.2011 at 14:19 PM
what an improvement!
beautiful architecture and design
bravo
Hyman Padlo on 03.16.2011 at 13:13 PM
What a transformation, the garden looks brilliant, this has really given me some good ideas.
Tara Dillard on 03.31.2011 at 13:38 PM
Gorgeous in all seasons. Great in winter too. A good test for any landscape.
Would like to see a pic of the interior style flowing to the landscape.
I’m thinking the designers nailed it fabulously.
Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
Reuben Huffman on 04.01.2011 at 08:30 AM
Very nice space! What is the tall narrow hedge- – or is it a vertical wall of liriope?
Anne on 05.22.2011 at 21:23 PM
Love, love, love the Urbis planters and espaliered prunus! The liriopi wall is a great idea as well, particularly with its movement when the wind howls.