An outstanding example of a seamless blend of landscape and interior
Photography © Henry Woide
Landscape Institute award sponsored by WoodBlocX won by J & L Gibbons for Derwent Valley Villa in Derbyshire.
Derwent Valley Villa is a family home that is truly shaped by its relationship with its garden; three separate zones blend seamlessly together to create a gentle and comforting space that is in equal parts forceful and full of character and gentle and healing. A family lawn, courtyard, heavily planted areas all connected by a meandering path that flows through the garden and into the house.
Landscape architects J & L Gibbons won the Landscape Institute's Award for Excellence in Small Garden and Landscape Design, sponsored by WoodBlocX for the project and it was an extremely personal one for everyone involved. The clients Craig and Lisa Foster wanted to create a beautiful family home and garden, however Lisa became seriously ill and passed away before the work began on the build. Craig continued with the plans and used the project to help him focus on the future.
Having mainly worked on public funded projects, Johanna Gibbons, who led the project with Associate Peter Kennedy, was delighted to be recommended to design the landscape elements for Derwent Valley Villa, they were given the creative freedom by the client to push the boundaries from the start, and as the project progressed the client became heavily engaged in the process, something which Johanna cites as a great help in developing the narrative and creating context for this incredibly personal garden.
Photography © Henry Woide
Some of the key features of the garden include accessibility for the children in the form of a connected circuit of paths for scooter riding, a family lawn for kick-about games and trampolining, it was extremely important to create a space that the children could connect with and explore. Rainwater collection keeps areas of the garden well watered and the pond topped us, plus a good amount of marginal vegetation for attracting wildlife to this suburban site, a bridge across the pond provides a peaceful spot to look over the garden. Johanna and Peter also worked with Maggie’s cancer charity on site in Taunton to enhance the environment for spiritual replenishment and also to support the family’s mental health and wellbeing through the design of the garden and contact with nature.
The design of the house by Johanna’s brother, Greg Blee of Blee Halligan, allows for the garden and the seasons to be seen and felt inside-out. Thanks to large windows and openings, the garden feels like a continuation of the house in the warmer months, while being able to be fully appreciated it during the cooler months thanks to the closeness of the abundant planting to the house. The team used a wide variety of native plants, trees and shrubs to create a garden which is perfectly balanced in terms of soils, movement and colour and whilst densely planted the garden is beautifully subtle.
The Landscape Institute’s judges commented: “This project is regarded unanimously by the judges as the stand-out entry to this category. The landscape architect used their skill to take the client’s aspiration beyond what they have imagined and this trust has served not only the people in the space but the landscape itself.
“The choreography between the garden spaces and interiors is exquisite and it is great to see these perceived as a single entity. The emphasis on native planting and restrained materials is harmonious and understated, with a lightness of touch - nothing is shouting at all, merely providing the gentle vehicle to navigate you through the space. A truly exemplary piece of work!”
L-R Peter Kennedy and Johanna Gibbons from J & L Gibbons and Dan McLearnon from WoodBlocX
Photography © Landscape Institute/Paul Upward
Dan Mclearnon from WoodBlocX said: “The Derwent Valley Villa project showed such a strong relationship between designer and client. The garden space shows just what can be achieved in a family home setting - truly inspirational! We were delighted to sponsor this award and to see it go to such a deserving winner. ”
Photography © Henry Woide
J&L Gibbons’ Johanna Gibbons said: “We are really delighted with the outcome of Derwent Valley Villa, this was a special project for the family and it shows the importance of landscape architects collaborating closely with the architect and the client to bring everything together in the best way possible to create a place of beauty and tranquillity that above all is a family space that brings nature and architecture together.”
