Garden Tour: A common garden Idyllic landscaped around mature trees - Domaine Templemere in Surrey was designed in 1963 by Eric Lyons & Partners for Span housing developer. The company has built 30 distinctive housing complexes, mainly in and around south London between 1948 and 1984 and they are now in high demand by fans of midcentury modern architecture, both for their bright and spacious interiors for their thoughtfully landscaped common gardens.
Templemere is considered one of the best preserved examples of a Span field. A year after its construction, he won a Civic Trust award for his "outstanding contribution to the local scene." The gardens, which are now managed and maintained by the Committee Templemere residents according to the plans of the 1960s plantation home, are based on a landscape park in the 18th century, and include forests and a lake.
Templemere is considered one of the best preserved examples of a Span field. A year after its construction, he won a Civic Trust award for his "outstanding contribution to the local scene." The gardens, which are now managed and maintained by the Committee Templemere residents according to the plans of the 1960s plantation home, are based on a landscape park in the 18th century, and include forests and a lake.
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Garden A look
Who lives here There are 65 houses on the estate and gardens are communal
Location Weybridge, Surrey
garden size This design is sitting in a plot of 12 acres, which includes wood and an artificial lake, gardens ratio of houses is about 50: 50
Property award-winning Span Estate, designed by Eric Lyons & Partners in 1963
Designer originally, the late Ivor Cunningham, an architect Span Landscape; now maintained and managed by the residents Templemere "Committee
Templemere resident Matthew Baxter is a former member of the Residents Committee and the son of Warner Baxter, who worked with Eric Lyons.
"He was my father, circa 1960, who discovered this plot," Baxter said. "He worked for Eric Lyons, architect, and was on his way back from a tour of the site with Preben Jakobsen, a Danish landscape architect who also worked for Eric Lyons. They stopped at a station of gasoline and curiosity, looked over his fence and saw this site. "
Who lives here There are 65 houses on the estate and gardens are communal
Location Weybridge, Surrey
garden size This design is sitting in a plot of 12 acres, which includes wood and an artificial lake, gardens ratio of houses is about 50: 50
Property award-winning Span Estate, designed by Eric Lyons & Partners in 1963
Designer originally, the late Ivor Cunningham, an architect Span Landscape; now maintained and managed by the residents Templemere "Committee
Templemere resident Matthew Baxter is a former member of the Residents Committee and the son of Warner Baxter, who worked with Eric Lyons.
"He was my father, circa 1960, who discovered this plot," Baxter said. "He worked for Eric Lyons, architect, and was on his way back from a tour of the site with Preben Jakobsen, a Danish landscape architect who also worked for Eric Lyons. They stopped at a station of gasoline and curiosity, looked over his fence and saw this site. "
Templemere residents Society
apart from one or two "beautiful" (and now protected) trees, Baxter says most was deserted. "There were the ruins of the large house that once stood on the site, and 12 acres of scrubland and loads of old tires that were slung over the fence of the station. Large trees were stifled by sycamores and self-sown thorns "
Templemere residents Society
Lyons company bought the site and developed Templemere - so named because there was a temple of madness still standing in the grounds of the old house overlooking Broad Water Lake, or simple ".
"When they bought the property," continues Baxter, "they released the sycamore, brambles and tires, but left large trees and built the estate around them." Eric Lyons partner business, Ivor Cunningham was responsible for site landscaping, and Preben Jakobsen worked on the project. "The architecture and landscape design are indivisible," Baxter adds.
"When they bought the property," continues Baxter, "they released the sycamore, brambles and tires, but left large trees and built the estate around them." Eric Lyons partner business, Ivor Cunningham was responsible for site landscaping, and Preben Jakobsen worked on the project. "The architecture and landscape design are indivisible," Baxter adds.
Templemere residents Society
"Just as the respect these wonderful specimen trees," Baxter said. "[Cunningham and Jakobsen] kept nearly a third of the still forested parcel"
Check out 12 surprising facts about the gardens of UK and what we do in them
Check out 12 surprising facts about the gardens of UK and what we do in them
Templemere residents Society
"much of the reasoning behind this was pragmatic - it would have been very expensive to develop the land, as it descends steeply," said Baxter
Interestingly, however, , when the park was landscaped, the slope was designed to provide a view across. the lake. the trees grew later, that nature took over the site.
Baxter describes the design as very "vista-centric I t is a succession of views -.. Some very sweet and some very large ones "He is a nod to the 18th century landscaped park, designed around many of these views [
Read about the connection between Templemere and garden designer of the 18th century Capability Brown
Interestingly, however, , when the park was landscaped, the slope was designed to provide a view across. the lake. the trees grew later, that nature took over the site.
Baxter describes the design as very "vista-centric I t is a succession of views -.. Some very sweet and some very large ones "He is a nod to the 18th century landscaped park, designed around many of these views [
Read about the connection between Templemere and garden designer of the 18th century Capability Brown
Templemere residents Society
This image shows a view from the forest and lake backcourt houses. Baxter said there is room for about 200 homes, but only 65 were built. The sense of space is key to the design vision 1960
"Whenever possible, we replace failing specimens invaded with the same", said Baxter, "but in some cases, for example where overhanging trees have grown too large and the region has become the shadow, we try to use something else from approved plantation program. "
"Whenever possible, we replace failing specimens invaded with the same", said Baxter, "but in some cases, for example where overhanging trees have grown too large and the region has become the shadow, we try to use something else from approved plantation program. "
Templemere residents Society
ground cover plants are repeated feature in the gardens Under this tree is a ivy ornament Other plants and ground cover used in gardens include:.. hypericum ; Lavandula 'Hidcote' (lavender) Taxus baccata (ifs) Galtonia; camassia; senecio, pyracantha, euonymus and vinca, another plant coverslips ground. "the dream of Preben was to cover the world in vinca," Baxter laughed.
He said some areas Span follow the plans of planting religious, and Templemere residents Committee did his best. "We are all respectful and aware of what it is about, but the reality is that the climate has changed and we lost some large trees in the storms, which changes the outlook. But overall, it was very lovingly maintained according to the original design. "
He said some areas Span follow the plans of planting religious, and Templemere residents Committee did his best. "We are all respectful and aware of what it is about, but the reality is that the climate has changed and we lost some large trees in the storms, which changes the outlook. But overall, it was very lovingly maintained according to the original design. "
Templemere residents Society
" planting features little flowers: this is a key element of the design aesthetic, "Baxter continued." I think the designers have thought of sculptural plants, as opposed to a range of species -. Use them to reveal surprises and make shapes "
One of the few flowering plants to function Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle', seen here Other shrubs include:. Symphoricarpos (snowberry) phormium; amelanchier; Sambucus nigra 'Aurea'; Hydrangea petiolaris Elaeagnus angustifolia Cornus stolonifera Cornus mas pampas grass, buddleia, speedwell, Berberis; pyracantha, laurel and rhododendron
One of the few flowering plants to function Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle', seen here Other shrubs include:. Symphoricarpos (snowberry) phormium; amelanchier; Sambucus nigra 'Aurea'; Hydrangea petiolaris Elaeagnus angustifolia Cornus stolonifera Cornus mas pampas grass, buddleia, speedwell, Berberis; pyracantha, laurel and rhododendron
.
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Pictured are some of the silver birch trees in the gardens . "Silver birch is something you see in a lot of areas Span," says Baxter. "The color schemes and textures houses reflect the silver birch The front of each house has smooth black and white rough brick. - Just as rough and smooth black white tree"
Other trees be planted in the 1960s or more recently Templemere include :. Robinia pseudoacacia ; paradise tree; holly; mountain ash; February and some ornamental cherry trees. There were also existing silver birches retained when the site was developed by Span with ancient sequoias, cedars and sycamores.
Other trees be planted in the 1960s or more recently Templemere include :. Robinia pseudoacacia ; paradise tree; holly; mountain ash; February and some ornamental cherry trees. There were also existing silver birches retained when the site was developed by Span with ancient sequoias, cedars and sycamores.
Templemere residents Society
This image shows the front door of a house, photographed in the spring and in the shade of cherry blossoms.
Templemere was used as a filming location in 1960 for the science-fiction spectacle puppet television for children Joe 90 , directed by Gerry Anderson MBE, founder of Thunderbirds and residing in the area at the time. More recently, the Channel 4 show, Misfits , had scenes shot at Templemere.
Templemere was used as a filming location in 1960 for the science-fiction spectacle puppet television for children Joe 90 , directed by Gerry Anderson MBE, founder of Thunderbirds and residing in the area at the time. More recently, the Channel 4 show, Misfits , had scenes shot at Templemere.
Templemere residents Society
" Span evolution was the first to create community gardens like this for ordinary houses, where the interior / exterior of the element - namely, one as a continuum on the other - was so important, "said Baxter." [the company] also thought on the landscape as something that you could use, not just as something to walk through.
"front gardens here are officially part of the municipal park," Baxter adds. "I think it takes a special type of person to give up this attitude" the castle Englishman 'to your garden. "And he loves the effect on the communal gardens have on life in Templemere.
It highlights the forest as a feature that particularly encourages community spirit. "W e have a monthly wooden days, where everyone meets and some farmed wood, which ends with a barbecue and we all discuss. [A professional gardener helps to maintain the landscaped areas.] You also see people go down in the morning with their dogs, or in the evenings in small groups with a bottle of wine. "
he said he is particularly good for kids. "My children are growing up seeing the peaks and snakes We also" our "fox. It cut our garbage, it eats things that lives in the woods It is truly amazing when you consider how we are built. here. He listens to the radio with us. And our cats have a very varied diet "
"front gardens here are officially part of the municipal park," Baxter adds. "I think it takes a special type of person to give up this attitude" the castle Englishman 'to your garden. "And he loves the effect on the communal gardens have on life in Templemere.
It highlights the forest as a feature that particularly encourages community spirit. "W e have a monthly wooden days, where everyone meets and some farmed wood, which ends with a barbecue and we all discuss. [A professional gardener helps to maintain the landscaped areas.] You also see people go down in the morning with their dogs, or in the evenings in small groups with a bottle of wine. "
he said he is particularly good for kids. "My children are growing up seeing the peaks and snakes We also" our "fox. It cut our garbage, it eats things that lives in the woods It is truly amazing when you consider how we are built. here. He listens to the radio with us. And our cats have a very varied diet "
Templemere residents Society
This view shows a curved pseudoacacia tree on the main green Templemere, near the entrance. "It is the largest expanse of grass on the field and it was designed - and used - as a social gathering place, rather than being, pretty lawn perfectly manicured. We renew our dads and children Camping Night soon , which takes place on the green. We also have a family day with games and cake and so on, where we use it to set up a big tent. "
Templemere residents Society
overall, the gardens are clearly a big part of what makes this a special place to live. As Baxter said, "It is beautiful on a set of windows in our house, I'm looking in the landscaped area -. Then the formal park Jakobsen on the other hand, I'm looking down for the woods leading down to the lake. "
Templemere residents Society
"We feels like you're in an idyllic village, "he added. "We feel very privileged to live here."
What experience do you have communal gardens? And what do you like about them? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
What experience do you have communal gardens? And what do you like about them? Share your thoughts in the comments below.