Marina Ralph
I want to create gardens that will initiate a deeper respect for the environment by reconnecting people to the land. I aim to create enjoyable functional spaces that humans and nature can coexist symbiotically. My design principles are characterised by modern landscaping, using a light handed approach with contrasting soft, naturalistic planting. Sustainability and ecology will intrinsically inform my designs.
Biography:
After eleven years working as a set designer and model maker for some of the worlds most distinguished directors and film studios, Marina decided to follow her passion for the environment and started working as a gardener. She decided her calling was in garden design and started the one year diploma, graduating in the summer of 2022.
This family garden in Ascot is a distillation of the local landscape, celebrating the lowland heath of Chobham Common and the ancient oaks of Windsor Great Park.
Monolithic oak platforms sit amongst undulating heathland style planting. These platforms define functional zones in the garden, creating immersive spaces for entertaining and relaxing. Branching gravel pathways connect up the zones and pull you through the garden.
This 1950s property is situated within the Chiltern Hills and is surrounded by ancient semi-natural woodland. Utilising some key principles of mid century modern design, this garden celebrates the wider landscape and harnesses the views of the woodland beyond.
A generous dining terrace seamlessly connects to the interior floor with linear rows of contrasting width limestone planks, drawing you into the space. The terrace is shaded by a dark steel Brise-soleil whilst two large reflection pools border the dining terrace. Their axis run perpendicular to the paving, drawing your eye towards the view of the Chesham Bois treetops. The far end of the pool runs through a de-constructed concrete wall, dropping over an infinity edge into the lower gravel garden, creating a subtle roll of water. As the paving pattern dissolves into greenery in the eastern corner of the garden, there is an immersive outdoor kitchen amongst the trees. A cast concrete wall, similar to that on the dining terrace, creates a convenient work surface and station for a hidden pizza oven. Wide steps lead you down to a sun terrace, where minimalist loungers are nestled amongst green foliage.
More wide steps lead down to a secluded seating area and fire bowl for evening entertainment. The seating area is embraced in woodland planting to shelter you from overlooking neighbours. This area is within earshot of the waterfall, creating a primal garden environment of fire, water and shelter.
