Langridge
Somerset, England
Langridge is a former farmhouse overlooking a valley just north of Bath, containing echoes of past agricultural structures and the surrounding colours and textures of old hedgerows and meadows. The series of garden rooms were designed to create a seamless transition between the interior and exterior spaces and ensure that the garden contributes to the overall flow of the landscape around the house.
Two floating terraces hover over a wild, native meadow, providing far-reaching views and integrating the house into the rural context. A ground floor central courtyard acts as an extension of the contemporary kitchen with its simple, formal lines and is continued outside with veil planting and a calming water feature. Finally, a first-floor roof garden is designed to flourish in a lightweight growing medium just 300mm deep.
Status
Completed Summer 2014
Client
Private
Architect
Seth Stein Architects
Main Contractor
Ken Biggs Contractor Ltd
Landscape Contractor
Walmsley Shaw
Response to Site
Starting with the architect’s concept of a series of external garden rooms, our aim was to celebrate the hilltop location and the generous views. We also wanted to echo the site’s agricultural past and the vibrant hedgerows dotted throughout the landscape.
Plants in Use
Through the planting we introduced the textures, colours and movement of a meadow. The orchard and hedgerows are full of rich seasonal colour and food. To create a sense of arrival, we planted clipped Buxus sempervirens and Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’, with Veronicastrum ‘Lavendelturm’ and Verbena bonalensis pushing through.
The top courtyard / roof garden centred around a chamomile lawn using Chamaemelum nobile and Chamaemelum nobile ‘Treneague’. We also created veil planting in the kitchen courtyard, including Sanguisorba ‘Red Thunder’, Molinia caerulea ‘Heidebraut’ and familiar favourite, Geranium pyrenaicum ‘Bill Wallis’.
