– for a country estate in Oxfordshire

Lydia and I developed a series of models and sketches that showed how each and every one of these areas would work, as well as how the axis lines could be enhanced to create a sense of place in the gardens, framing the incredible planting work that the landscape designers had done. Top of our list was the creation of the loggias at the centre of the site, that linked the pool terrace to the West gardens via a wide causeway. The causeway was created using the flame-textured Kilkenny Limestone that was used to form the swimming pool terrace that is framed by the pleached trees and planted beds created by Hendy Curzon.

The Loggias themselves consist of two structures, both matching and formed of gigantic brick buttresses carrying an immense single piece of cambered oak which have large cyma mouldings to the ends. These beams were constructed from one section of oak and were cut and formed with chainsaws by Gelder Joinery.  They are linked with thick green oak rafters that provide a frame for wisteria to cover. After only a few years of growth the wisteria has interlocked each of the beams and rafters and provides a natural net over the loggia with its pungent scent and light green leaves setting off the richness and detail of the oak and the texture of the brickwork to the piers. The loggias are there to serve one purpose only and that is to provide a space to wander through the garden undercover whilst deep in thought. The end of the loggia links to a path leading south to the crochet lawn and an intimate garden developed by Hendy Curzon. The wide path crosses a bridge over a circular pond and fountain thatare on the centre axis line of the Summerhouse. This pond is a simple but enjoyable feature of a stone apse ‘sunburst’ with voussoir stones radiating from the back of an arch in a single piece stone to voussoirs on the face of the arch. A carved lion’shead has a spout through the mouth which creates a fountain trickling softly into the water below.

The pool is created with a semi-circular ring of honed Irish Blue Kilkenny Limestone surrounded by flame-textured stone of the same variety, with the pool sides and base also in honed black Irish Blue Kilkenny, providing a depth that resembles that of a well. The front wall of the feature is crowned with a simple stone capping detail, that sweeps down either side to join the low dwarf walls framing the flower beds in front and retaining the raised path behind. The walls are constructed with the same oak-fired handmade bricks used in the main house and are capped with sandstone copings, both providing the vital material link back to the main house.

The aim was not to create a garden or garden features that were disparate to the main house, but rather to provide a continuation of the architecture throughout the gardens that would provide links, or pockets of moments read in conjunction with the language of the main house and its extensions. A prominent way this language was continued was through the use of materials and how these materials were both subtly matched and altered, such as using honed Kilkenny steps rather than flame-textured.

Beside the tennis court sits a small pavilion structure that I designed with Scott, constructed using four engineered oak posts supporting massive, cambered beams over the top. These, in-turn, support principal hip rafters for a pyramidal roof. A central octagonal boss to the apex is crowned with lead and an oak sphere, with a gently sweeping tiled roof to match the main house. Internally, the open structure is formed with the rafters on show, with their chamfered ends supporting oak sarking boards over the top. The back wall is tiled with its rear face facing the woodland, while the interior side of the wall is created using a x-brace frame with panelling between. As with the Summerhouse, lighting and speakers are concealed within the structure and are also cleverly integrated into the gardens beyond.