Secluded courtyard garden, London

A compact city garden, doubled in size and spirit

The challenging practicalities of this compact city garden — a podium above a car park with limited weight-loading points, soil depth and very difficult access — required a thoughtful approach to bring the client’s brief to life, collaborating closely with the interior designer, Studio Mica.

Most important was the need to create a sense of seclusion without sacrificing the limited light this courtyard garden received and create a convivial entertaining place that flowed seamlessly from indoors to out.

Tree ferns, deftly planted at varying heights, create a sense of enclosure, providing much-needed privacy without overwhelming the space. Materials reflect London’s industrial past  – Farringdon specifically – whilst complementing the bronze and green hues of the naturalistic, relaxed planting.

Further amplifying the sense of depth, space and intimacy, dark green painted brick and smoke-black mirrors create the illusion of a London city garden that’s doubled in size.

Photography: Rachel Warne