Gallery: Hempstead Road, Watford

The scope of the work was to design and source materials and supervise the contractor, who was known to the Client.

The brief was simple a patio on the south and east of the house in keeping with the house and not too expensive; 'oh and by the way there's a party in June so it needs to be complete by the end of May!'

Well most briefs start that way... The house was newly rendered and the client also wanted a mediterranean feel. The land falls away quite quickly so steps needed to be incorporated. The design also needed to be part of the overall new garden design.

Solution: White render and terracotta... wide enough for sun-lounges and eating out, sheltered for a barbeque, but ensuirng that the views across to the exclusive Grove Hotel were uninterrupted. A straight wall starting about 1.5m (four feet) high and sloping down to about 0.5m (two feet) at the steps. The four foot wall would shelter the barbeque and the wall would be low enough not to obstruct the beautiful views across the canal to the Grove Hotel beyond. Straight, clean lines make the whole design very simple and pleasing to the eye. Next phase is the fruit and vegetable walled garden adjacent to the white rendered wall of the patio, together with a gravel carpark supported by a timber sleeper wall.