Schools & Community, Monkton Combe, nr Bath

School planting

Monkton Combe School

Brief

To design a planting scheme that complemented a new building within the context of an historic setting.

Before

Monkton Combe school near Bath is situated in an old Monastic site. The school has grown over the years and contains many styles of architecture including the new maths and science building constructed in 2008. The extensive grounds were bland and neglected but had the potential to unite the school buildings and bring a garden context to the campus.

Solution

I created a continuous band of planting with different elements to reflect the style of building and feeling of the spaces. Areas near the glass balustrade and modern façade of the new building I used contemporary plants such as grasses, Sissyrinchium, Limonium and Euphorbias. The large windows and horizontal lines of the architecture were reflected in the rows of lavender, Stachys , Ompiophogan and Potentilla. Where modern and old buildings joined, a seating terrace was created overlooking the planting. Here I created a more traditional garden with a large box ball, lavender, Geraniums, Salvia, Nepeta and Choisya etc,. The outcome was very attractive and the pupils gathered and sat on the lawns near the planting.

here