An Approach to Garden Design in Historic Settings

By Romain Bardin CMLI CHort CEnv

Associate Director | Chartered Landscape Architect & Horticulturist

Context and Brief

When asked to consider a project for a site, the landscape architect’s first responsibility is to understand its condition, setting and character.

Good landscape & garden design is rooted in a robust knowledge of the Site and anchored in its environment. Historic settings bring an additional layer of interest when it comes to design as they usually bear a strong foundation to build a narrative.

Similar to Archaeology and Heritage, the process starts with a desk-based assessment of the available information relating to both the natural and built environments.

Usually complemented by a site visit, it establishes a ‘baseline’ for the site, highlights its distinctive qualities, and informs the constraints and opportunities for a project. It includes a review of the following (list not exhaustive):

-              Site conditions (geophysical, topographical etc.)

-              Designations (Statutory or non-statutory)

-              Landscape Character Assessments (at different levels)

-              Planning context (previous planning applications and planning policies)

Heritage assets can be designated or non-designated. Statutory controls are in place for designated heritage assets and these include grade I, II* or II listed buildings, Registered Parks and Gardens (also grade I, II* or II) and schedule monuments. These afford a high status within the planning system.

Designated heritage assets (such as listed buildings) can be found within non-statutory designations (identified by the relevant local planning authority and included on local lists based on their local value) such as conservation areas, ancient woodland or parks and gardens. Historic maps and a review of Public Right of Ways (PROW) provide a good insight of a site’s evolution.

Some features are readily visible within the site (Lime tree avenues indicative of former access, patches of discoloured grass indicating a pond, paved areas indicating a former porch, greenhouse or ancillary buildings etc.). Other may be hidden or lost to time, damage, neglect or overgrown vegetation (grottos, wells, bridges, access, woodland paths).

Understanding site conditions is critical as geology, soils and environment influence the character of a site and its potential to be enhanced or transformed. Additional professional reports prepared by Ecologists and Arboricultural Consultants (services offered by HCUK in-house team) inform the baseline in more details, alongside Flood Risk Assessments and Geophysical studies undertaken by other specialists.

Approach

The client’s brief is central but may benefit from refinement to ensure that it responds sensitively to the site. Usually, private individuals, property developers or project managers have a fairly clear idea of what the development is aiming to achieve. The aspiration can either be to redesign a garden, adding new features (walled garden, pergola, gazebo, pool, tennis court, greenhouse) or be associated with building alterations (renovations, conversions or new build). Landscape Design & Planning will help to secure proposals that fit their context and achieve planning permission.

Historic fabric, patterns and features can inform the proposals. These may be translated as reinstatements for example: former pathways, boundaries, orchard, arboretum or woodlands. It can also inform proposals for building development for example following the footprint of historic ancillary buildings or walled gardens. This approach grounds the project in its heritage, providing authenticity.

Design in historic settings, however, should not be frozen in time. Contemporary needs  (amenity, recreation, facilities) must be integrated with sensitivity.

On some occasions, restoration may respond best to the client’s brief and the site. A project where historic drawings from Charles Bridgeman were found, allowed for garden proposals to include the reinstatement of the original ‘patte d’oie’ layout.

Sometimes restoration works can only be financed when associated to wider development where historic building may coincide with new build.

A listed College incorporated of new sport hall within the Green Belt supporting the renovation of the listed building where modern functionality coincides with restoration and respect of the setting.

Finally, the creation of new features can add value to sites and landscapes that may be located in more ‘ordinary’ settings. These may become future heritage assets.

A new Victorian-inspired manor proposal included the remodelling of the surrounding open field. A sinuous access road embedded in the topography would provide the visitor with glimpses of the house and ancillary buildings, within the newly created parkland, as inspired by Humphrey Repton traditional design.

Whatever the chosen direction – restoration, reinterpretation or creation, the key principles are to ensure that the character of the natural and built-environment remains coherent and complements to the setting, while addressing wider environmental sustainability considerations (including green and blue infrastructures, biodiversity, climate resilience).

Considerations

Most historic properties feature designed approaches, vistas and traditional elements whether they are located within a townscape setting or a more rural location.

The relationship between the site and its wider setting must be carefully considered, particularly in how the end user or visitor will experience the spaces and views from and into the landscape.

The relationship between the internal architecture and the outdoor spaces is essential e.g. vistas from entry points or windows, creation of garden rooms linked to the facades and sun exposures, water features strategically located.

The Masterplan should reflect the sensitivity of the site and provide an appropriate level of detail to complement the significance of the proposals.

One of the key points to take into consideration is accessibility which is applicable to all projects. The design of a Georgian library’s rear garden, for instance, needed to ally historic fabric and new uses. Inclusivity was indispensable to bring the readers into the garden of a tiered Georgian sunken courtyard and the historic upper lawn and London Planes. Options were explored to either recreate the historic garden or reinterpret it, keeping the traditional structure and views from the building, and converting the design elements to bring play features and family spaces.

Traditional materials should also be used, or re-used (e.g Yorkstone) as far as possible, and honour the build heritage to provide harmony and coherence in the design. Contrasting materials can also be used in the case of contemporary extensions for example, built to preserve the historic fabric of the historic building and therefore associating the external spaces accordingly.

Conclusion

There is no single formula for designing in historic settings. Each project is unique and the designer must bring its experience, sensitivity and creativity to restore, reinterpret or remodel a site.

Successful design arises from a holistic approach: aligning client vision, site history and condition as well as planning policies and designations, to tailor proposals that fit the intrinsic fabric of the site and its wider context.

HCUK Group can bring together a multidisciplinary team of experienced, knowledgeable and collaborative professionals, understanding the challenges other disciplines face. It ensures that every project incorporates sensitive, innovative and feasible solutions that honour the past while supporting contemporary life and aspirations.

You can get in touch with Romain via email at romain@hcukgroup.co.uk to find out more or if you have any queries.