Considered planting and cohesive landscaping has delivered the structured urban sanctuary this Dublin family craved
Interview: Róisín Carabine | Photography: Marianne Majerus
The designer: Landscape architect and partner, Dominick Murphy, and team at Murphy Sheanon redesigned this garden for a family with teenagers and adult children.
The plot: A sizeable north westerly garden surrounded by mature trees and shrubbery on a third of an acre in a leafy County Dublin suburb.
What did the garden look like before?
It was well maintained and well cared for. However, it lacked any organisational arrangement or cohesion.
What was the plan for the new design?
The family wanted a redesign that would enhance the usability of the garden in winter; to include a gym, outdoor rooms, sauna, plunge pool and storage area with a focus on (almost) year-round plants. Our job was to achieve that in a cohesive manner that ensured a simple flow around the property while maintaining an impressive aesthetic.
Tell us about the work that was done?
To give the garden an expansive feel we introduced a central raised lawn and designed the external spaces, both sheltered and unsheltered, around the periphery, nestled between new and existing planting. The family wanted an outdoor living room area so we decided on a glass box as this would lessen its visual impact while offering uninterrupted views. Working closely with the contractors, Carragh Landscapes, a tailored design was created with retractable roof and sides and built-in heaters.
Biggest challenge?
Transporting materials through the site was difficult and time consuming, due to their size and bulk – some of the trees came in 600-litre pots – but it was nothing the contractor couldn’t handle.
Best design decision?
Working with Carragh’s in-house joinery team to create a consistency in the joinery – gates, wall panelling, bin and bike storage, raised planters – throughout the site. This helped ground these elements in the scheme and allow the horticulture to be the main feature.
Get the look
Garden design by Murphy Sheanon, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Dublin; Planting, Gardenworld Nurseries; Bespoke sauna, gym, firepit and bin stores, including glass house and paving, sourced and installed by Carragh Paving & Landscapes
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