Explore the secluded, opulent coastal garden boasting a personal jetty in Britain's priciest neighborhood
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Poole Harbour, Europe's largest natural harbour, is home to a stunning contemporary coastal garden that seamlessly blends modern architecture with the surrounding landscapes. The garden, located around a modern seaside house, covers an area of 790 square metres and is designed by Helen Elks-Smith.
The garden's design strategy relies heavily on local materials, colours, textures, and strong, simple planting. This approach helps the house blend quietly into the landscape, as seen from the local marina where it appears as silver leaves and waving grasses, with the house barely visible.
The garden's colours and textures mimic the surrounding landscapes of Poole Harbour. It incorporates hardy, textured coastal plants that can withstand windy, salty air and sandy soils. Common plants in these gardens often involve ornamental grasses, sea thrift, heathers, lavender, and coastal succulents that endure Dorset’s maritime climate.
The garden's design allows it to be easily recognized as being in Poole Harbour. It is home to various wading birds and red squirrels, making it globally important. The soil in the garden is mainly free-draining greensand, with some pockets of sticky clay.
The climate in Dorset is generally frost-free but fiercely windy. The garden's design takes these conditions into account, with strong, simple planting used to withstand the restless winds and changing light.
The garden creates a sense of journey from house to sea. Spacious, sociable outdoor areas with bespoke seating and water features invite relaxation and entertaining. Architecturally, designers may incorporate elements like these to enhance the contemporary feel while respecting the natural surroundings.
Notable contemporary garden designers in the Dorset region include Ann Balmforth, who specializes in luxury and contemporary garden design with features such as architectural planting and modern garden elements that create both relaxing retreats and entertaining hubs.
This contemporary coastal garden around a modern house in Dorset is a testament to the beauty that can be achieved when nature and modern design harmoniously coexist. The garden, designed by Helen Elks-Smith, is located in the USDA 9a hardiness zone.
- The contemporary coastal garden in Dorset, designed by Helen Elks-Smith, features a variety of plants that mimic the surrounding landscapes of Poole Harbour, such as ornamental grasses, sea thrift, heathers, lavender, and coastal succulents.
- The garden design strategy, which heavily relies on local materials, colours, textures, and strong, simple planting, helps the house blend quietly into the landscape and creates a sense of harmony between nature and modern design.
- The garden, located around a modern seaside house, covers an area of 790 square metres and is part of the home-and-garden lifestyle, offering spacious, sociable outdoor areas with bespoke seating and water features for relaxation and entertaining.
- In the USDA 9a hardiness zone, the garden is home to various wading birds and red squirrels, making it globally important, and its soil, mostly free-draining greensand with some pockets of sticky clay, suits the hardy, textured coastal plants that can withstand windy, salty air and sandy soils.
