COMPACT COURTYARD GARDEN

A courtyard garden for a 1990s-built terrace in Oxford.

The owners love a chance to relax or entertain in the garden, so they wanted a contemporary design that would be beautiful all year round.

Low-maintenance planting was key because they don't have much free time for gardening. We used a restrained palette of lush evergreen plants, including liriope and bergenia, for seasonal flowers.

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Though the space is small (approx. 6m x 11m), we found space for a 4x4m sun terrace, a water wall for the soothing sound of trickling water, and a pool which spans the width of the garden, enhancing the sense of space. 

A pergola beam gives a sense of enclosure and a corten steel screen offers some protection from overlooking neighbours' windows, without boxing in the terrace.

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The couple loved the orange-red finish of Corten steel, so we added two corten panels to give the space an "asymmetric symmetry" and contrast with the vibrant greens of the planting.

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We also designed an under-balcony dining area, and the enlarged balcony, where we added a smoked glass and steel spiral staircase to link it to the courtyard.

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