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Show 4 & 5 - The Connolly Family
When the Connolly Family bought their house six years ago, one of the main selling points of the house for Eamonn and Anne Marie was the stunning garden. They have had lots of projects - mainly with the interior of the house and the garden is next on their list. They have 3 young boys who love to play and explore in the garden.
The Location
The Connollys live in Rathfarnham, a well established residential location, the house faces onto a busy road. Deceptive from the exterior, the back garden was almost split in two - the garden immediately behind the house has been cultivated and has a pretty suburban feel. The main focus of Diarmuid's designs is to the rear of the property, a graduated slope which backs on to the River Dodder.
Diarmuid's Initial Reaction
"This is an intrigueing prospect... an idyllic location, indeed this is my childhood haunt and the challenge is to tame this site, to make it accessible and usable for all the family". (Diarmuid is from Templeogue).
"What I think of when I see this location is adventure, Mark Twain and Huckleberry Finn. I see a relaxing area for Mum and Dad with terraces that stick out over the ravine ..the ideal would be to create a garden that keeps the family away from the television..."
Diarmuid was excited by the material he found indeed the old telegraph poles provided the inspiration for his design. But he was challenged by the latter part of the garden "a cliff face - an extreme slope of mud and constructed remants of past attempts of taming" The ground then melts away into damp woodland, at the other side of the river the woodland theme continues.
The Design
To create a woodland feel Diarmuid created a series of open pavillions which jut out at a 45 degree angle with connecting steps to a twin pavilion on a lower level. Both pavillions are raised above the ground on stilts - the stilts, made from telegraph poles 200m above ground level run through a curved roof which is constructed from wood and metal that incorporates hidden drainage. These twin pavillions lead down to a platform of similar dimensions made from wood, again held briefly above the ground and then finally leading to floating walkway decks. The planting throughout the site is everything that you would expect in a woodland - trees such as beech, birch and luscious ferns all clustered in groups.
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