Location: East Sussex, UK

The client wanted privacy from the beach on which the new-build property is directly situated, without losing the view out to sea from the house. The garden had to look good from the top floor of the house: a study area in a glass box perched on the roof.

Taking its cues from the curves of the as-yet unbuilt house, an undulating cedar boardwalk leads through two ‘dune’ areas to the beach and to a sunken elliptical entertaining area, invisible from the beach. A rendered blockwork seat curves round a firepit and provides shelter fom the wind as well as privacy from curious onlookers. Timber bollard lights and marine-grade steel footwashing stations make the garden user’s life a little easier.

The timber uprights of the new sea defence were linked with rope commissioned from Chatham Dockyards. Oak groynes mark the entrance: the house name was etched directly into the wood. Leymus, marram and fescues have been planted to colonize the area, stabilised with a biodegradable coir stabilisation system