Site Specifics
This garden design project took place at a luxury new build property in Martland Hill, Bolton. The property was located in an exclusive gated development, but as with most new build properties, it lacked true inspiration and design when it came to the garden.
The garden still contained builder’s rubble, which had contaminated the soil and left the landscape with very poor drainage.
This property had been the show home during the initial days of the gated community, and we soon discovered that a huge concrete slab had been left by developers in the middle of the garden.
Alongside these ground issues, the garden was extremely shady due to the mature trees growing along the rear boundary, which made planting seem difficult and left the space feeling dark and cold.
Client Brief
Our client desired a truly breathtaking garden with a lot of wow-factor, but had no set ideas on how to achieve this. Due to our experience in luxury garden design and development, they chose 4D Garden Design to help them realise their vision.
While they did not have complete ideas for the landscape, there were some requests, such as a fire pit that would run a clean fuel, rather than logs, and an overall modern feel to the garden to complement the new build property. They also expressed a desire to be able to use the garden in all weather conditions.
Our clients anticipated having large social events in their new home and wanted plenty of outdoor seating for guests. They also wanted to include sunloungers in a prime spot for afternoon and early evening sun, so they could take advantage of their garden at all times.
The main request for this garden design project was to create a truly incredible party garden.
Design Solution
Our first task was to make the garden appear bigger, which meant combating the shady areas and the boundary lines. We painted the existing fencing black, which created a sleek, modern appearance and expanded the landscape. Additional privacy was provided by planting pleached trees across these boundary lines.
Gazebo Installation & Design
To accommodate our client’s desire for a party garden, we designed and constructed an open-top shelter. This would be the main party area within the garden, and was installed with a large gel-fuelled fire pit and polished marble top to fit their desire for a clean fire pit area. To make the space more inviting and comfortable, we added surround seating.
We instructed a specialist marine upholsterer to fabricate bespoke waterproof cushions and covers for these seats to provide added comfort and ensure the space could be used all year round. For the extra wow factor, we also installed a wine cooler that could be hidden away when not in use, allowing for a grand reveal during social occasions.
Garden Zoning
To provide a sense of cohesion and flow, we separated the garden into three main areas: the patio, deck and fire pit area. Each zone within the garden design could be used for different social occasions, whether a party or a more relaxed gathering. To define this separation, we constructed three free-standing stone walls between each area.
At the rear of the garden, near the mature trees, we installed a chunky redwood deck. This would be used as additional seating areas within the garden, allowing for more guests or to create a more casual ambience based on the occasion. The decking was enhanced with stainless handrails and cables, which not only look amazing but also create a secure environment for people of all ages to enjoy. During this installation process, we took extra special care to avoid intruding on the root systems of the trees nearby.
Paving Installation
The main paving area within this garden design was constructed using Dutch concrete (Schellevis). This concrete was installed in various bespoke sizes, with some of the slabs measuring over 1m x 1m to fit the desired areas. To ensure a safe and efficient installation of this paving, specialist lifting equipment was required to lay some of the larger slabs.
Resin-bound aggregate was used to link the fire pit area, the deck and the Dutch concrete due to the fact it is suitable for all-weather conditions and has a sleek, modern appearance.
Material Selection And Modern Colour Palette
In all garden designs, it is important to develop a palette of materials that are suitable for the specific conditions of the site as well as the overall appearance theme desired. For this luxury garden design, we needed to rely on low-maintenance materials that would perform well in shaded areas and also offer an amount of reflected light to brighten up what can be quite a gloomy space on long winter days.
The combination of Dutch concrete and resin-bound aggregate both reflects natural light, making them an ideal solution for this shaded landscape, as well as improving the natural drainage conditions.
Soft Landscaping
For soft landscaping appeal, we used a combination of planting types with low-maintenance needs to ensure year-round attraction. We choose large evergreen box balls to provide an evergreen structure and add some colour to the neutral, modern palette of the landscape.
Ligularia sky rocket was used to add drama between the stone walls, as this plant can thrive in damp, shady conditions. The rest of the borders were laid out to shade-loving perennials and ground cover to ensure ongoing visual appeal, even in the low-light conditions.
A large glass and louvred roof shelter was installed at the back of the property, sparking a long-term relationship with Chris Byrne at Aspiration Blinds. We have since collaborated with him on several projects over the years and hope to continue our amazing relationship to provide better services to our clients.
4th Dimension
Soon after completing the garden, Ian received a phone call from the creative director of ITV’s Love Your Garden. They were researching local garden designers to find examples of how they had created privacy and intimacy within outdoor spaces. They were particularly interested in how we had created the fire pit area and the use of pleached trees for this new build garden design.
A site visit was arranged, and the television crew were keen to include the garden in the upcoming series of Love Your Garden with Alan Titchmarsh. The creative director and cameraman spent an afternoon in this new build garden, filming and photographing the space and the work our team had done.
Seeing this garden design on national television was another proud moment for 4D Garden Design.
