Project Description
Victorian Garden Redesign with Modern Levels and Social Space
The Brief: Victorian Garden with Social Space
The clients have extensively renovated the interior of this Victorian property. The split level garden has been landscaped in the past, but now feels dated and uninspired. It is overlooked from various angles and the awkward layout and multiple level changes make it seem disjointed and difficult to use. The clients require storage and the facility to entertain large gatherings comfortably and with style.y.
The Garden Design Idea
The proposed design aims to unify the main area of the garden on a single level. The space will be divided into sections made up variously of decking, paving and planting beds.
Directly outside the back door will be a large decked area that will provide ample room for a dining table and chairs. The existing fence will be dressed with timber cladding, in front of which three tall planters will be positioned.
The void space underneath the decking, sitting within the existing sunken corridor running around the house, will be used for storage. Access will be provided by hinged trapdoors in the decking.
A Cor-Ten steel wall installed within a planting bed will divide the decked area from the rear of the garden. The rear of the garden itself will be paved with sawn sandstone.
Social Spaces and Privacy Features
The back left hand corner will feature a timber pergola, which will be installed with a Cor-Ten steel laser cut screen to increase privacy and aesthetic appeal. The paving will be enclosed by low raised railway sleeper planting beds, one sleeper high, enabling the entire central area including decking and paving to sit on one cohesive level.
A second Cor-Ten steel wall will provide a backdrop and dividing boundary between the upper area and the lower section around the side of the house, with decked steps allowing access to the area.
Pleached trees along the left hand boundary will create a privacy screen, helping to shield the garden from overlooking neighbours.
Planting Ideas
Planting will be simple and low maintenance with a primarily green and white colour scheme. This restrained palette complements the clean lines of the Cor-Ten steel, the softness of the timber cladding and the contemporary sandstone paving, creating a calm and unified garden environment.
Before & After Tranformation
Before images show a disjointed series of level changes, aged materials and a lack of cohesion across the garden.
Design Inspiration
The design draws inspiration from modern urban gardens that combine natural materials with refined industrial accents. The intention was to create a seamless connection between the updated Victorian interior and the outdoor space, using level changes and structural elements to introduce order, character and usability.
Sketch & Concept Development
Initial sketches explored ways to simplify the complex levels and create a more unified, functional space. Concepts focused on combining contemporary materials, rectifying awkward height changes and improving privacy without overwhelming the garden. Sketches also helped define the balance between decking, sawn sandstone paving and Cor-Ten steel elements, ensuring each zone flowed naturally while still providing the structure needed for large social gatherings.
