A contemporary city courtyard garden
This garden was designed with care to make the most of a small plot, only 5.5m wide and 8m long, belonging to a new build townhouse in Oxford. Bordered on both sides by fences and a tall wall at the end of the garden, the clients wanted attractive views into the garden from the house, as there were none from the garden itself, and a sanctuary they could relax in at the end of the day.
Smaller courtyard gardens like this are true outdoor rooms strongly linked to the house; they need to be thoughtfully considered to look good all year round.
Key to the design was a new spiral staircase that linked the main living area and deck at first floor level with the garden below. The garden had to be attractive and work as well from above as from ground level. A glass panel in the first-floor sun deck reinforces the link.
At the base of the stair is a dining area shaded from the hot midday sun, linked by a reclaimed brick path that skirts past contemporary ceramic sculptures set within textured planting, over a rill to the evening terrace with views back to the house. A cascading corten steel water feature gives movement and soothing sound within the garden. Two intersecting black stained timber arches frame views within the garden and give a sense of privacy from the neighbours.
Planting was selected for its attractive year-round interest and ease of maintenance. Two Acer palmatum Dissectum Viridis trees provide striking colour from spring through to autumn, contrasting with the corten steel panels and black stained fencing, with further texture provided by dwarf mountain pines and copper pheasant tail grasses. Mathiasella adds contrast with pale lime green bracts in spring that fade to a papery pale pink and deeply cut foliage that lasts into late autumn. A skirting of black Ophipogon or mondo grass grounds the scheme.
