Tim grew up in his parent’s 2-acre Wicklow garden, Stilebawn Cottage, that was open as part of the Wicklow Gardens’ Festival and from an early age he was encouraged by his parents to help maintain their garden. Undeterred by the menial aspects of this profession, he then spent his teenage years gardening in both Fern Hill Gardens, Co. Dublin and Charleville House, Co. Wicklow (two of Ireland’s great traditional houses and gardens), later on completing his formal training in landscape architecture at Wye College (University of London) in Kent. The influence of such gardens along with his upbringing at the foot of the Sugarloaf Mountain (opposite Powerscourt House and Gardens) in Co. Wicklow are strongly evident in the colours, textures and forms that he brings in to his designs, whether for large or small gardens.
Tim likes the contrast between formal and natural areas in a garden, the inter-play of a tapestry of flowers against a backdrop of strong green foliage or a crisply cut lawn edging a naturalistic planting area, woodland or wildlife pond. He sees the development of a garden design as a way of laying out a space in which the key elements of: starting point, route and destination are evident on plan but, perhaps, by design, less obvious in the actual garden. This is achieved by careful positioning of features, combined with selection of planting to create gardens that entice and encourage exploration and give opportunities for complete immersion in to their character.
This approach resulted in him being awarded a gold medal and visitors’ favourite garden at the 2008 Bloom in the Park festival in Dublin and he repeated this success in 2009 with another gold medal and best large garden.
Qualfications
B.Sc.(Hons.)Geog., M.Sc. L.E.D.M., MILI, MGLDA
Contact
Tim Austen
Austen Associates
One Salt House
South Quay
Wicklow
Tel: 0404 66827
Mobile: 086 8057343
E-mail: designdesk@austenassociates.ie
Web: www.austenassociates.ie
