An Urban Oasis

The brief from the client, a leading technology entrepreneur, was to create an immersive space which would make the surrounding city ‘disappear’. With his links to the Far East and brief that also included a spa, private and formal areas for intimate and large gatherings, our thoughts turned to Japanese stroll gardens. These stylised spaces typically include a tea house, which soon lay at the heart of our thinking.

Designed fifteen years previously, the existing garden was a jumble of pattern-making, levels and severely overgrown. The prime sunny spot was laid out for car parking. Our challenge was to simplify and create a garden which felt effortless, generous and with pleasing routes through it – in essence, a modern interpretation of the stroll garden.

How one walks through stroll gardens is key – the pace is dictated by steppers, designed to quicken or slow the walker depending on the effect required. In our design, this is mimicked through the floating limestone steppers that lead to the tea house spa, where a double fountain provides splash and interest and also references the traditional washing of hands before you enter a tea house.

Elsewhere there are allees, a large octagonal seating area with a bespoke gas fire inlaid with compass points to the client’s favourite cities, seating and dekton-clad walling with original brass sculpture we designed in collaboration with sculptor Jack Eagan. This leads to further more enclosed spaces and up to a terrace for dining and entertaining. Throughout, we used limestone, walls and railings in aged bronze. Trees were hand-picked from nurseries across the UK and Europe, mostly of asian origin and with an emphasis on autumn colour and spring blossom.

The scheme had to be delivered through a delayed planning process – meaning the tea house was fitted almost at the end. The result, winner of a national award, was a testament to excellent team-working and desire to realise a shared vision. Seen here a year after installation, the planting will continue to grow out and hide the city beyond its boundaries.

Awards/Media – Winner BALI Awards, Large Project Category 2026