The Viking Friluftsliv Garden

In more detail

• Multi-stemmed amelanchiers and osmanthus are used to great effect standing sentinel at the entrance and along one border. Trunks and bark collected from a Sussex woodland floor offer additional interest and wildlife habitat
• The beautiful pergola for alfresco dining and outdoor kitchen area have been hand crafted from the hardwood iroko

About the garden

The Viking Friluftsliv Garden takes inspiration from the Scandinavian lifestyle and its design principles. The Scandinavian word friluftsliv (pronounced free-loofts-liv) means open-air living and is an amalgamation of the Norwegian words for free, air and life, and is best translated as an outdoors lifestyle.

Visitors can see a landscape based on simple geometry, with an abundance of colourful and textural planting. The garden features an outdoor kitchen and a snug seating area with an exterior fireplace. The main focal point is a water wall that feeds into a plunge pool.

Four standard trees provide the backbone of the garden, creating height and structure, while multi-stemmed trees add sculptural interest. A pine border runs the length of the garden. A neutral colour palette predominates in the planting and there are pops of colour throughout.