Terraced Garden with Walkway & Level Lawn
Private Residence
Location: Hillgarth, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth
Client: Private Client
Status: In Planning
Located on the edge of the Chorleywood Common Conservation Area, this private residence sits within a steeply sloping plot that presents a significant design challenge. With a level difference of 15 metres from the rear terrace to the wooded boundary, the goal was to create a functional and visually engaging landscape that navigates the gradient while maintaining the property’s Arts and Crafts character.
The design introduces a structured yet flowing approach, using a central walkway or “spine” that guides movement through the garden. This carefully planned route is interrupted by level areas, each serving a distinct function such as an entertaining terrace, firepit, office, or studio space. By integrating a mix of ramps, floating platforms, and boardwalks, the need for extensive retaining structures is minimised while ensuring a seamless transition between different areas of the site.
Blending Formal & Organic Elements
Three distinct design concepts were explored to shape the form of the main walkway: serpentine, linear, and staggered. Each approach creates a unique interaction between the built elements and the natural contours of the landscape. Some sections of the walkway glide over the slope, while others are partially retained within the terrain, allowing the garden to feel integrated rather than imposed upon the site.
A level lawn area was introduced to provide usable space within the steep setting, creating a contrast to the more dynamic movement elsewhere in the garden. By carefully positioning terraces and pathways, the design balances formal structure with a more organic, natural flow.
A Functional & Seamless Landscape Solution
The final design ensures a series of inviting and functional spaces that respect the existing slope while enhancing usability. The mix of structured terraces, flowing walkways, and preserved wooded areas results in a landscape that is both practical and visually engaging, offering a modern response to a historic setting.
Service offered: Design
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CGLA are an award winning team of Landscape Architects, Garden Designers Landscapers and Garden Maintenance Operatives working in Buckinghamshire, London and the South East, as well as on prestigious design projects across the UK and abroad. We are currently working in Oman, Jersey and France, and welcome enquires for design, landscaping or garden maintenance. Contact us here
