for a new private residence
incorporating an ultra-modern
home; cutting edge glass and
stone, with floating linear
blocks hovering above the
spaces below. Aralia designed a
rustic contemporary woodland
of Silver Birch and angular
oversized granite boulders for
the owners to drive through as
a journey for them to take every
day on entering their property.
We could have just designed
a more direct drive leading
directly to their entrance
60 Landscape & Urban Design
(which was the brief we were
originally given) but chose to
maximise the experience for
the clients. On the south side
of the property, glass extends
full width across the home,
the clients asked us to omit
the obligatory terrace, so as to
retain the open aspect with no
interruption. We understood
our clients concerns, but felt
that they needed the option of
a useable terrace close to the
house, in reality they weren’t
going to walk extensively
to the far terrace for a quick
morning cuppa! We didn’t
want them to lose out on that
opportunity for an experience
in the garden. Our response
was to design a sunken terrace,
immediately adjacent the glass
expanse. This was hugely
practical due to its proximity
to the house, whilst still
retaining the open views – and,
more importantly providing a
beautiful secluded space, with
an incredibly intimate feeling,
that will provide the client