Sandymount Coastal Garden

The aim was to create a green and lush garden with depth. A garden that can be used but will also look fantastic from the new extension view. Stepping out the back door onto a raised patio terrace with space for seating, dining or both. A built-in BBQ unit has been incorporated into the north facing wall here. A series of stepping stones link to the second, more intimate seating area, nestled within the planting. Native, salt-tolerant planting and sustainable methods — permeable surfaces, rainwater capture and chemical-free soil care — keep the garden working hard for wildlife as well as for people.

Our Approach

Sandymount sits close to Dublin Bay, so the planting palette is built around native, salt-resistant species — sea thrift, coastal grasses, sea buckthorn and hardy Irish perennials — that thrive in the salt-laden air while staying green and layered through the seasons, with nectar and habitat for pollinators from spring to late autumn. Sustainability runs through the build as well: permeable paving and gravel that let rain soak into the ground, rainwater captured from the roof to water the borders, locally sourced materials, and living, chemical-free soil care. The long plot is composed as a sequence of views from the house: the raised terrace at the back door, then the stepping stones drawing the eye through the planting to the second, more intimate seating area beyond.