THE BRIEF

The clients wanted to transform a compact London garden into a calm, private outdoor room that could be used daily as an extension of their kitchen and living space. The existing space felt enclosed and underused, with limited planting and no clear sense of purpose.
The brief was to create a garden that felt immersive and restful, offering comfortable seating, greenery at eye level, and a sense of separation from surrounding buildings.

THE DESIGN RESPONSE

The design creates a secluded courtyard formed by layered planting and vertical oak fencing, turning the small footprint into an intimate garden room. A raised seating platform anchors the space, providing a comfortable lounge area wrapped in greenery.

Planting is arranged in dense, textural layers — combining ferns, climbers, and soft groundcover — to blur boundaries and soften the timber structure. Vertical planting introduces height without crowding the floor space, while pergola slats filter light and cast subtle shadow across the seating terrace.

The material palette is restrained and natural, allowing foliage to dominate visually while maintaining a calm, architectural base. The result is a compact garden that feels immersive rather than small — a quiet retreat within a dense urban setting.