Fieldsway House.
"Sometimes clients have a rough idea of what they're after and draw little sketches for me to work from. I quite like this as it allows for "artistic licence" as opposed to a more formal approach. This garden was a labour of love, particularly the bespoke steps; the client was happy to leave me to my own devices, which in turn gave me a chance to try something I'd not done before." AS
The client decided to simplify the shape of the paving as he was keen to keep as much space for planting as possible. This would prove helpful when it came to laying the paving and the edging.
The actual space to be paved on and the retaining wall consisted of earth & rubble dumped there after the Second World War. The wall in particular was the remnants of bombed buildings and Anderson Shelters stuck together with concrete & mortar.
The starting point for creating the structure for the steps involved removing a section of the retaining wall and digging into the 'mound'.
The concrete structure for the steps could then be poured.
Due to consistent heavy rain, the area became a bog and the hardcore struggled to compact due to the high water table. This meant the team had to change tack in order to be able to lay the paving over the area.
As the paving slabs were sawn, it offered the option of laying the slabs with adhesive on a concrete slab. A concrete slab, reinforced with steel mesh was then poured into some formwork to create a strong, solid base for the paving to be laid on.
Salty wanted to create a fan effect for the steps in an Art Deco style.
The slabs and setts being laid with an adhesive.
Bullnosing the steps was something that Salty hadn't done before but the client was happy for him to try. Usually this process would be done by the supplier but as the steps weren't pre-determined shapes or sizes, this wasn't possible.
It's often the little things that the clients appreciate; in this instance it was making sure that all the pointing joints were in line with each other.
Another effect Salty wanted to create was the notion that the steps were a part of the retaining wall and that they were coming out of it.
The devil is in the detail!
From Mud to Martini's
"We engaged Salty to turn a sun-starved muddy patch at the rear of our flat into a useable terrace, and what we ended up with was far beyond our expectations. Salty took our rough sketches, and turned them into a lovely peaceful space. He worked with care and passion, and produced a staircase which was both functional and artistic. We were kept involved during the whole process, and this collaborative approach resulted in a space that we love and regularly use. We can wholeheartedly recommend Salty, for his quality of work, positive attitude, and dogged determination to deliver something outstanding." Greg Clough