Spa Villa Gardens & Grounds
The Villa was surrounded on three sides by an unholy mess, neglected for years the abandoned plot first needed levelling, adding drainage, creating levels inline with the entrances steps and access to the road and pavement outside and enabling disabled access. Laying out a driveway, parking area, a rear Patio area, as well as a front Patio and small grass garden area. A circular pathway around the whole perimeter of the wall and the wall and fences themselves needed designing and making from polished steel, zinc coated. Lastly planting in accordance with aspect and water availability and lighting to enhance the plantings and views from the villa were added. See what you think.......
Rear Area, Driveway, Patios & Planting
A complete photo montage covers most of the work undertaken at the rear of the Villa on this particular project.
Preparing the Area
Conducting a clear up following the facde work we finally could see what we were working with.
Design, drainage, layout
These pictures show the borders, composed of the drainage, hydro insulation of the foundations and facade on the right, as well as the channels and positions for lighting. The two side borders created a harmony and balance here with the driveway/patio area going down in between.
Materials
Choice of materials is obviously one of the utmost important factors in the successful garden design construction. In this case we took inspiration from the recent resurfacing of the old road and the availability of original granite street paving blocks in the area. The old surface of the roads around the Villa quarter came in handy to complete the stylish and age appropriate renovation of the villa. Returning it to its original grand state surrounded by materials that had once characterised the park and villa back in the glory days of the late 19th century.
Plantings
Staring with clumps of 15 - 20 Spring bulbs of daffodils, crocus and tulips flowering from early to late spring in succession before planting the hydrangea in between. A sheltering north western wall provided enough protection from the cold winds and weather and the plentiful and warm afternoon sun in central europe provided ample growing time for the larger flowering heads of the hydrangea macrophylla. Containers of large & small Olive trees outside in the summer on the granite blocks gave a mediterranean feel to the whole garden.
