PROJECT

Greensleeves, Barbados

DESIGN

Todd Longstaffe-Gowan Ltd

CLAY PAVER

SeptimA Terrestre,
SeptimA Saffron

Photo's: Richard Bloom

On the west coast of Barbados, Greensleeves is an extensive historic estate that has recently undergone a major transformation. Renowned landscape architecture practice Todd Longstaffe-Gowan was responsible for redesigning the outdoor spaces across the five-acre estate. For the new terraces and walkways, the reconfigured pool area and a striking scallop-shaped forecourt, the landscape architect selected Vande Moortel clay pavers.  Although the project is unmistakably contemporary, the design team deliberately sought to connect with the island’s history. This historical context informed a material choice deeply rooted in the island’s architectural heritage.

An Island with a Brick-Building Tradition

Barbados may conjure images of swaying palms, white sandy beaches and sparkling Caribbean waters, but less well known is the role brick has played in the island’s built heritage. For centuries, bricks were carried across the Atlantic aboard ships from Britain, where they served as ballast on lightly laden vessels. Once unloaded in Barbados, the bricks found a new purpose. They were used in buildings, warehouses, garden walls and paving across the island.

This history provided an important source of inspiration for Todd Longstaffe-Gowan. The new terraces and garden paths draw on that tradition, translating a centuries-old material language into a contemporary landscape.

Clay Pavers as a Unifying Element

For the paved areas, the landscape architect selected red-brown SeptimA Terrestre as the principal clay paver, complemented by yellow accents in SeptimA Saffron. Their subtly varied tones bring warmth to the design and provide a natural counterpoint to the lush tropical planting. Their low water absorption is also an asset in this tropical setting.

The laying pattern contributes further to the character of the design: the clay pavers are laid in a herringbone pattern, creating a subtle texture that gives the paved surfaces additional depth and visual rhythm.

The selected clay pavers combine a traditional appearance with contemporary performance. As part of the ECO-7-size range, they make more efficient use of raw materials and require less energy during production, while retaining the timeless qualities that have been associated with fired clay for generations.

The clay pavers unite the different areas of the estate into a coherent whole. Terraces, walkways and outdoor living spaces flow naturally into one another, while subtle variations in colour bring rhythm and refinement to the landscape. What stands out is how effortlessly the paving settles into the landscape - as though it had always been there and will remain there for generations to come.