Dulwich Village garden 5

The brief

The client wanted a high quality and timeless feel towards the house, to compliment the new extension by Mittleman Associates architects.
The garden would then give way to a wild and whimsical space for the children to play. 

The neighbouring church, with its magnificent stain glass window lit up at night, was a unique feature of the garden to be enhanced.
The wishlist also included a fireplace, water feature and a shady yoga courtyard.

The challenge was to disguise the irregular shape of the garden, and to accommodate the steep topography which sloped away from the house across two planes.

What I did

Towards the house, an upper terrace extends out from the building to create spaces for alfresco lounging, cooking and dining. The stain glass window creates a stunning backdrop. High quality finishes, clipped hedges, topiary domes and steps adorned with lanterns provide a sophisticated and elegant feel. 

The retaining wall is softened with banks of ornamental planting and the change in level allowed us to create a cosy sunken terrace.
The irregular shape of the garden is cleverly disguised using linear design lines, which then dissolve into a naturalistic meadow orchard beyond.