Set in the heart of rural Perthshire sits a high tech contemporary German kit house, with stunning views across the Strathearn Valley towards the Highlands, within the garden I constructed a feature wall, steps,drainage rill and feature planters. Made from Caithness stone and laying it vertically using dry stone technique ( no mortar) it is a major feature within the overall landscape scheme planned for the Garden by Landscape Architect Martin Stevens of Edinburgh firm HarrisonStevens.

Built across many months in 2012 the works used in excess of 350 tonnes of stone. Monsoon season prevailed in Scotland for most of the year and at times the working conditions on site were ‘less than ideal.’ Now that the works are completed house, walling and planting sit within the landscape as one, crisp contemporary design married with traditional skills and materials.

The wall is softened in the landscape through pockets of planting and is broken up centrally with a series of steps which allow the clients access to higher areas of the garden where views over the surrounding landscape are spectacular. Eight alcoves are built into the walls, within which sits individual sculptures, hand carved I have used three different types of stone, Forest of Dean sandstone, Balmoral granite and Ledmore marble. Inspiration for the carvings come from buds & seeds and relate to the cycle of rebirth and death that naturally occurs across the seasons, observable throughout the year as the garden progresses from Winter into Spring & Summer and back again through Autumn.

On a lower level of the house the clients can gain access to the garden from a set of patio doors leading from a little sun lounge, just outside of which has been created a seating area with stone raised beds, this area is sheltered from the prevailing winds and provides the clients with a little suntrap area where they can enjoy sitting out with the smell of lavender filling the air.

Various sets of steps were created to allow the client easy access to the various different areas of the garden.