Modern passive house

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This modern passive house with its bold, dark terracotta exterior had a simple south facing lawn bordered by a lavender hedge close to the house.  The view from the garden looks across the bucolic Devon countryside and was front and centre in the consideration of the garden make-over. The client, inspired by a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show, wanted to repurpose a sunken trampoline pit into an outside entertaining space and to transform a large mound of soil that had been excavated during the house build and planted with wildflowers, into an outside room. 

Meticulous craftsmanship is evident in the hand-prepared stonework, where the walls themselves are works of art. A broad, sweeping pathway guides visitors toward a central fire pit, encircled by generous seating—perfect for convivial gatherings. The expansive excavated space has been thoughtfully extended to include additional zones for al fresco dining, alongside a petite deck designed for reclining and enjoying the landscape.

The bespoke stone capping and seating nod to local vernacular, with a warm palette inspired by Devon’s sandstone and the house exterior, while a lighter, textured dry stone wall provides a gentle contrast. These understated details create a harmonious dialogue between the house and surrounding countryside, weaving textures and tones.

The planting scheme embrace boldness, deliberately chosen to complement the house’s distinctive hue. A vibrant palette of fiery oranges, scarlet reds, sunny yellows, and contrasting purples energizes the landscape, anchored by the dark, textured greenery of evergreen Pinus mugo—an homage to a neighbour's Scots pine. To soften the transitions between walls and borders and evoke a Mediterranean influence, low-growing herbs such as thyme and rosemary are planted along the edges, their aromatic presence adding to the garden’s sensory richness.