Modernist Family Garden (Carrickmines)

This project involved the design and build of a large front gravel driveway and a large back garden attached to a new traditionally built family house in South Dublin.

The client expressed an interest in modernist Italian garden design and wanted their new garden to reflect this while still remaining a family garden. With a love of modern sculpture, the client’s brief also called for a modern and understated garden sculpture to be the focal point of the garden. An abstract bronze bespoke piece by the Irish sculptor Mark Ryan (Kildare Gallery) was chosen as a key element of the geometric garden design. The modern garden sculpture was mounted on a plinth in front of a feature wall constructed from Irish blue Kilkenny limestone.

Two existing trees (Cornus Mas and Field Maple) were retained and carefully pruned to add scale and subtle maturity to the garden.

A formal framework of evergreens and pleached hornbeams give a formal green framework that encloses a classic rectangular lawn situated at the heart of this garden. Rectangular shapes play throughout the design of this contemporary garden and are reflected again in terrace area with its large rectangular paving stones laid out in a geometric grid. This is a statement garden for the modern family.

The spacious gravel front driveway, designed to park 3 vehicles, houses a large detached garage that was recently converted into a home office.

New granite gateposts in a traditional style were installed to mark the entrance to the driveway and give a nod to the old gateposts found in the surrounding area of the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. Tumbled gold granite cobbles were used to add warm tones and texture, while a pathway flanks the house and frames the driveway. Planting to the side of the garage included several pleached hornbeams and Portuguese laurels to provide privacy from the neighbour’s house, while espalier pear trees were planted on the opposite side to enjoy the southerly aspect and added interest. A large existing Japanese maple tree was also retained and pruned to add seasonal autumn colours to the front of the house. This is a classic contemporary driveway which blends in with its surroundings.