CLIFTON WOOD- decking terrace
 

Situated within Clifton Wood in Bristol, this narrow terrace is positioned on top of severely undulating land, giving a fantastic framed view between the rows of neighbouring properties.

Although a very small garden, it provided a great opportunity to explore what is possible in smaller spaces. Due to its positioning and the views, the garden becomes almost like a roof terrace. The client wanted some storage and to create an outdoor living space for their young family and entertaining.

Keeping this area simple was the priority and kept the space open. Creating a screen around one side of the garden provided some privacy from the overlooking property next-door but was important to keep one side open to make the most of the view.

A simple, untreated hardwood timber deck is a great backdrop for the surrounding planting and the same timber was used to create the bespoke seating and storage unit, including the screen. The original rustic stone wall was maintained and taller, more recent brick walls leading to the house were coated with a concrete render to keep with a more modern, updated edge.

The client was interested in the ideas of biodiversity and ecology and this gave me the opportunity to further explore how it is possible to implement this ethos into a space of this size. Installing a green roof on the storage unit capitalises on the limited space available. Enveloping the rest of the space with borders of meadow- like matrixes of perennials gives a feeling of enclosure, but also boosts biodiversity as well as the vibrancy of the garden and injects colour into the space.

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