Nordic barn garden - Oxfordshire

The design for this project in the Cotswolds was driven by the Nordic-inspired modern agricultural renovation of the existing single-story dwelling. At the rear of the house the poured concrete floors of the South facing open plan sitting and living area have been extended out into a concrete plinth to make the most of the floor length doors. This living space looks out over generous seating and dining terraces made of pre-cast concrete that gradually step down as you move away from the house. Multi-stem trees provide height, shade, and frame the view of fields outside the garden. The whole area is surrounded by a generous border of ornamental grasses interspersed with flowering perennials and roses.  This naturalistic planting will change with the seasons with grasses and flowers taking on their winter forms and setting off the copper of newly planted beech hedging.

The remaining area of the one-acre site, currently given over to mown lawn, will be transformed into an orchard with meadow underplanting to connect with the fields and hills in the landscape beyond. While painting existing pressed metal sheds with red oxide paint referenced agricultural barns typical to the area and integrated them into the concept.

At the front of the house the existing tarmac drive with unattractive walls is replaced by a softer gravel drive with estate railings at the entrance. A combination of multi-stem trees and clipped beech domes set in massed grasses give form to this space and reference the landscape beyond.