The Long Barn, Amersham
A design for a contemporary wraparound garden with spaces for play, entertaining and connecting with nature, on the edge of the countryside.
Whilst the owners of this large barn on the edge of fields had worked their magic on the interiors, they had not yet tackled the garden and didn’t really know what they could do to make it more interesting. With lovely views out in one direction, the garden is currently dominated by a large tree which they will need to remove in order to add the glass walled garden room they have in mind.
They approached Chiltern Garden Design with an open mind, asking for a solution that reorganised the space and made it feel suitable fora property of this stature, and also to make it feel bigger than it is, whilst also catering to the needs of their extremely sporty sons. Entertaining spaces were also a priority, with an outdoor cooking and dining space required.
The plain gravel walkway to the front door was unwelcoming and typically blocked with a car, making it visually harder for visitors to find the right approach. Our task was to make the garden seem interesting and worth exploring, whilst connecting each space with the next and with the wider landscape. The clients were open to including a range of styles, from lush and tropical to clean cut, formal, to quirky contemporary.
The design solution starts at the driveway entrance, where cars are guided to parking spaces away from the house. The visitor now approaches along an avenue of impressive box headed trees, elegantly lit in the evenings. A multi-sport pitch with a wall for tennis practice also doubles as a basketball court and for table tennis, screened by hedging.
The approach to the front door is made more welcoming with a range of corten planters filled with mostly foliage plants, for a lush textural feel. New signage, lighting and paving guide the way.
The floor to ceiling gable end windows of the barn look out onto a large lawn, for the boys to play football, or just to enjoy the sumptuousness of a generous open space. A discreet decorative gate leads into a woodland glade where the trampoline is tucked away out of sight.
The main entertaining garden faces the open countryside, and incorporates a full outdoor kitchen cooking space, festoon lit pergola, dining area and a niche for the hot tub nestled into a private corner. This all looks out over generously planted beds of naturalistic plantings of perennials and grasses, creating a restful feeling to the space. The new glass room becomes a sheltered lounging space for continuing the party into the evening, warmed by a gas firebowl and lit by elegant lighting.