Sculpture front garden
An overgrown front-garden in Brighton gets a contemporary beach-themed makeover. The garden was seriously overgrown, the walls were crumbling, the path was a trip/ slip hazard. Guests regularly fell over. This bold layout solves access problems and creates a curved sculpture garden in a small square space.
The project was a self-build collaboration. The home-owner built the walls, we built the path together, and I installed the gravel, xeriscaping and planting. The driftwood sculptures are by Ben Fearnside.
Planting has to cope with North-East low-light, hilltop winds, salt air and shallow clay soil over chalk. Plants chosen are up to the challenge! Garden is white themed, with deep red and chartreuse contrast.
INNOVATION: Using roof fascia boards as shuttering for curved concrete ramp.
Click here for design mood-board and planting plan
Driftwood and rocks create bold shapes and shadows.
Organic curves draw the eye around the space.
A poured concrete curve is dressed with gravel.
The spiral is continued by pepples.
Eryngium, lavender, hellebores and fatsia feed bees all year.
Planting through gravel keeps weeds out and moisture in.
White anemone is tickled by red sanguisorba.
The curve from above.
Evergreen Daphne beside door for walk-by scent.
Garden before
Overgrown lawn & shrubs framed by tumbling wall.
Slippery surface, unexpected steps= trips and slips.
Sycamore and tree peony block all light to the windows.