THE ONLY GARDEN
NORTH OXFORD VILLAGE
This project was a major collaboration between Holland Green Architects, Barr Build and Sarah Naybour Design Ltd.
The remit being to create the forever home of two prestigious clients from an existing large house in a secluded village. It needed to provide a sanctuary for them in their retirement and grounds for grandchildren to play in safely.
An existing annex was demolished and the land reduced by over a meter, allowing for a large formal lawn and large terrace linking the two buildings.
We then terraced the steep bank adding a wide hoggin path on which kids can play and adults can sit and enjoy the view from under the orchard trees. We also added a garden room and viewing deck to the tennis court which serves the whole village. Oh and a hot tub on the 2m high upper deck to the annex!
It was a testing project build which featured crested newts, a quagmire of clay and a hidden concrete wall. We worked with drainage experts to manage water across the site and wildlife specialists to protect badgers. My gratitude goes to Matthew Ellett and his team of landscapers who managed to survive. “Such gardens are not made by singing ‘Oh how beautiful’ and sitting in the shade” - Rudyard Kipling.
This project was created for Sarah Naybour Design Ltd by Sarah Naybour & Olivia Stewart
TESTAMONIAL
“With Uni and schools now closed and enforced working from home, the next few weeks (possibly months?) are going to be a challenge. As I said to my colleagues in my final day in the office today, my garden will be my sanctuary in the coming weeks. Just a shame that we may not be able to open for NGS this year.’”
LG - OXFORD