A “Mediterranean” garden for a Listed Italianate villa
Winchester, Hampshire
The clients view
"It's been a really successful project. People frequently stop to admire from the gate. Should charge 'em!"
The Brief
Inspired by holidays in the South of France, the owners of this beautiful house asked me to help them create a formal architectural garden with a Mediterranean feel and style of planting - making the most of fantastic views over Winchester to the Solent. On a more practical note, lack of parking and turning space was a real problem, which they wanted my design to address.
My design
An attractive square terrace, framed by clipped yews, provides extra parking space when needed, without dominating the garden. To the rear of the house, I developed "Mediterranean Terraces", with stone seats - using mature existing pines trees to frame views from this highest part of the garden. Mass planting of lavender is backed by wisteria, grown along an oak colonnade. Views from the loggia at the front of the Pavilion are framed with clipped olives and trellis. A bespoke mosaic roundel in the paving makes this an attractive place to sit, out of the sun, throughout the day. A simple parterre grounds the house, and frames the front door, while a path leads to the fountain - visually increased in scale by the use of semi-circular stone steps, and a surrounding gravel area softened with planting.