2019-07-01 Homebuilding & Renovating

72 homebuilding.co.uk

Design& Materials garDenDesign

W

hen planning new or

redesigning existing

gardens we rightly focus

on our daytime use, but the

garden plays an additional role

as a space to entertain through

long, dusky summer nights and

as a place to be viewed during the

coloured autumn evenings and

darker winter months. Planning

this extension of use should be

considered an integral part of the

design process, as well-planned,

functional lighting and multi-use

spaces really do add value to the

property as a whole.

The most practical aspect to

consider first is lighting. Good

external lighting takes two forms:

directional and feature. Directional

(or navigational) lighting includes

the illumination of steps, slopes

and any other change in level for

safety, and lighting doorways or

entrance points. This lighting can

be quite discreet, from minimalist

powder-coated steel cubic shapes

to pieces which are architecturally

appropriate. These can be made

bespoke, bought off the shelf or

reconditioned and restored as

salvage pieces. Steps and terrace

edges that are raised can be under-

lit, which while not illuminated

enough to give high visibility,

certainly makes you aware of a

rise and reduces the likelihood of

night-time trips or falls. As a rule,

I tend to place directional lighting

as discreetly as possible; it’s best

thought of as practical lighting,

designed in for a purpose.

Lighting that is used to

illuminate terraces, garden

buildings and the entrance is

always more design significant

and should relate to the overall

design intentions or the vernacular

architecture. With all forms of

lighting, it is worth considering

the luminous brightness and the

bulb type. Decorative lighting can

be a feature in its own right and

if you intend to place lighting in a

prominent place, then Edison-style

vintage bulbs add to the design

intention, although they do need to

carry the appropriate IP (ingress

protection) rating for outdoor use.

As with our homes, soft light

is always more forgiving and

comfortable, while cool or white

light does not lend itself to spaces

for relaxing or outdoor dining.

Feature lighting

Feature lighting is often used to

uplight impressive specimen trees

and sculptures in the garden;

sometimes, depending on the

house, the façade itself can feature

low level lighting.

Trees are always better lit from

underneath, casting shadows up

the trunk and into the canopy.

Lights in a tree’s canopy can be

charming in towns and urban

settings but I don’t think they are

successfully translated to home

gardens. Feature lighting can also

be placed above a table for added

illumination when dining alfresco,

while uplighting works well at the

far end of the garden when shining

onto a fence, as this makes the

space appear larger.

Built into this two-tier lighting

set up should be lights which

are sensor or heat triggered

for security of areas such as

garages and outbuildings, and

Landscape designer Paul Hervey-Brookes

explains how to enjoy your garden at night,

from the first signs of summer through

to the colder winter months

by Paul Hervey-Brookes

How to design

a garden for

summer nights

good external

lighting takes

two forms:

directional

and feature

Paul Hervey-

Brookes

is an award-

winning

landscape

designer based

in the Cotswolds

image: jeremy phillips

Lighting Safety Advice

Darren Staniforth, technical expert at

electrical regulatory body NICEIC, shares

his top tips for safety advice when lighting

an outside area:

• All outside sockets must be RCD-protected
  for safety. An RCD (residual current device)
  works by switching off the flow of electricity
  when a cable or flex is cut.


• Cables underground must be buried in a
  trench by an electrician at a sufficient depth to
  avoid damage from garden tools.


• All cabling should be suitable for installation
  outside. Your registered electrician can advise.


• Decorative lights plugged into an outdoor
  socket should be taken inside after use as they
  are not usually designed to stay out all year.


• If in doubt, seek the help of a qualified
  electrician, such as those registered with the
  NICEIC (www.niceic.com).