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architect's hillside garden and a house extension

Concept design | Middleton, Ilkley

The Brief

Our clients had recently moved into their home and were planning a house extension, cutting into the hillside garden.  They wanted designs to:

  • respond to the impact of a new house extension at planning stage
  • create a more beautiful place to sit and relax
  • consider the dominant neighbouring property to the North and the views in and out of the garden
  • minimise hard landscaping
  • have a ‘croquet lawn’ in front of summerhouse with potential to accommodate a marquee
  • allow them to oversee the garden build with their chosen contractor

The site

The east facing garden is situated on the south facing slope of the Ilkley valley.  Areas of the garden were prone to be wet and the soil is heavy clay. This is a complex site due to the significant level changes and the client’s desire to keep the existing mature trees which weren’t far from the house extension.

Gallery

KEY FEATURES

Comfortable routes around the garden at various levels.

Secluded seating under a circular gazebo. A garden for birthday and wedding celebrations!

Integrating mature trees into borders with a bold structure.

Minimising level changes where possible and costly groundworks.

The Design

Working from the hand drawn plans by the client (submitted for planning approval), designs were prioritised to consider the consequential impact on levels in the garden, and how the outdoor space is best accessed.  

The clients wished to retain the open feel of the garden, and relocate seating areas whilst ensuring the panoramic views of the moor were maintained.

Included were:

  • steps & new routes to the garden
  • a circular gazebo providing secluded seating with panoramic views to south
  • swing seat to catch the evening sun with views to the west
  • a small patio extension for the existing summerhouse
  • a dining area on the lawn terrace for parties
  • space for a marquee for celebrations

Existing Garden
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