APT Studios were asked to design the gardens for a large re-development of a farmhouse and it’s outbuildings into a private residence, this project is currently under construction.
We were inspired by the varied and richly historic site, with one of the key features of the design being a contemporary take on the historic ridge and furrow that was visible on the front lawns. We excavated channels for planting and lined them with corten steel panels, with the channels following the same paths as the historical ones, these will be planted with grasses to provide movement, texture and year-round structure. Excavations were carried out carefully to ensure that the existing mature Birch trees weren’t damaged, and could continue to thrive within the new garden.
A central ‘arrival’ area sits at the front of the two houses, and is a thoughtfully arranged series of positive and negative spaces to allow our clients to display art work, garden, and sit. Concrete lintels make up rustic looking plinths for sculpture, contrasting with corten steel planters, filled with colourful drought tolerant planting. This area steps down into a large sunken entertaining space that is surrounded by planting, giving an intimate and sheltered space for sitting. Parasol trees are arranged to create a green cover to sit beneath, and were inspired by the timber posts of the old pole barn that used to sit nearby.
Around the side and to the rear of the houses, a series of lawns and planting areas serve as spaces to play, entertain and host events. New planting of trees and the development of a new wildlife pond give features to enjoy from within the house, and garden.
The material palette was also inspired by what we found on site during our initial visits. Concrete, rusted metal and crushed aggregates informed our key material palette of self binding gravel, Cor-Ten steel, polished concrete paving, and concrete lintels. The planting palette is a semi-wild mixture of grasses, herbaceous perennials and wildflowers that aims to compliment the landscape, settle in the new buildings, and boost bio-diversity across the site.
This project is under construction, and due to be completed in 2027.
