Modern Rockery

Chiswick

In the design phase November 2023

The end of a garden which rises sharply to overlook the River Thames with an outdated rockery in need of modernisation. The wind whistles off the river creating a wind tunnel to the rest of the garden, and is an underused and ignored part of the garden despite the glorious views over the river.

Design solution

Create a welcoming top terrace with clay pavers in a herringbone pattern and introduce a cosy corner pergola to look out over the river. The irregular steps down sweep around a modern style rockery created with evergreen conifers in various colours, shapes and sizes, rhododendrons, euphorbias, ferns and geraniums, leading to a sunken shed hidden by plants to the right. A tall evergreen hedge to the front of the top terrace acts as a wind break to shelter the garden, and to allow for more tender plants such as a Japanese Acer at a lower level. In order for the step risers to look good from the house we will use the clay pavers to construct the steps. On the ground level there is a second terrace for teenagers with table tennis, basketball and lounging sofas with a firebowl. Watch this space for updates . . .