Durham Contemporary Courtyard Garden
Our ‘Romantic Courtyard Garden’ in Durham has been awarded a BALI medal for Design Excellence in the BALI National Landscape Awards for 2020. The brief for this garden was to create a private romantic space for dining and relaxation.
A row of pleached ornamental pears (Pyrus chanticleer) and some strategically placed Beech trees provide privacy from several overlooking houses, this gives the space a feeling of green enclosure.
A bespoke Oak pergola draws the eye upwards whilst also giving cover from neighbouring properties. A spherical water feature is the central focus here with a backdrop of grasses and dogwoods.
Sawn ivory sandstone paving (Stonemarket Paleo) mirrors the interior ground floor of the house, bringing the inside out. This is contrasted by dark grey Baksteen pavers. Traditional materials used in a contemporary way mirror the architecture of the house.
Planting is loose and informal. To combat impoverished soil, raised beds were made to create two large feature Rose beds containing mass plantings of David Austin Rosa ‘Princess Anne’ and cheerful Mexican daisies (Erigeron karvinskianus) Winter structure is provided by Osmanthus and Ilex crenata.
A subtle lighting scheme extends the gardens use into the evening providing a stunning view from the house in the winter.
Mid sized trees for privacy