Modern Forged Fence (BP217)

BP217 is built from simple geometric shapes: rectangles and diamonds within a crisp frame, mounted on a stone wall beside a wall lantern.

It suits houses with modern architecture particularly well.

Rectangles, diamonds and nothing more

BP217 is built from two simple figures. Upright rectangles divide each panel into tall fields, and slender diamonds are set inside some of them, giving the design a quiet rhythm of straight and diagonal lines. A crisp outer frame holds everything together, and the gate in the photo uses exactly the same grid, so the entrance blends into the run of the fence.

The panels stand on a wall of pale, split-face stone. The contrast between the rough stone and the precise steel lines is part of the effect: the fence looks light and graphic, while the wall gives it weight.

Precision is the decoration

With no scrolls or leaves to hide behind, a modern fence shows every weld and every angle. On BP217 the diamonds have to meet the frame at exactly the same points in every field, the verticals must be perfectly plumb and the corners of the frame sharp. We cut and assemble the parts on jigs, grind the joints flush and check each panel against the drawing before it is galvanized and painted.

How tall should a front fence be?

For a modern house, a front fence of about 120 to 160 cm (4 to 5¼ ft) usually looks best: high enough to mark the boundary and stop a dog from jumping out, low enough to keep the facade visible. Along side boundaries and around the garden, owners often go higher, up to 180 or 200 cm, for more privacy.

Local rules matter too. In the UK, a fence next to a road generally needs planning permission if it is higher than 1 metre, and in many US towns zoning codes or homeowners’ associations limit the height of front fences. We are happy to adapt BP217 to such limits.

Variations of the pattern

• diamonds in every field or only in alternate ones,
• a matching wicket and sliding or swing driveway gate,
• integrated letterbox, house number and intercom panel,
• black, graphite, dark bronze or a light grey to match render.

Set beside the ornate patterns in our fence catalogue, BP217 shows how much a few straight lines can achieve.