Islington Garden

The underlying geometry of the design brings this garden together. The shapes and forms of the soft and hard landscaping repeat and echo in the rectangles of the green lawn and the faded zinc rear panel and in the lines made by the paths and water feature.

The view out from this Islington townhouse leads to a Zinc feature with a gentle water cascade into a pool that extends the width of the garden.
The view out from this Islington townhouse leads to a Zinc feature with a gentle water cascade into a pool that extends the width of the garden.
Stage 1

The Brief

Our client came to us with a blank canvas; the site was empty, with just an existing feature crab apple tree to work around. The house interior is a stunning contemporary design within a traditional Islington townhouse.

Through discussions with the client we felt that a simple, geometric design would work best but with a structure that was carefully underpinned by balancing forms, styles and textures.

Stage 2

Design and Build

The strong geometry within the garden plan utilises key focal views and lines out from the house. The feature rear zinc panel draws your eye and entices you out. A distinctive water feature extends the width of the garden, merging into a cantilevered hardwood deck that floats around the base of the Crab Apple.

Hard landscape materials and the soft landscaping merge within a unified colour palette of greens, whites, soft greys, mauves, purples, blues and the occasional dash of magenta. Three fastigiate Amelanchier Robin Hill trees create height and additional screening along the boundary fence from overlooking neighbours.

An existing fig tree is underplanted with a mix of herbaceous plants, in the tones of blue, grey, whites and purples. The seasonal flowering offers all year round interest in this Islington garden.
An existing fig tree is underplanted with a mix of herbaceous plants, in the tones of blue, grey, whites and purples. The seasonal flowering offers all year round interest in this Islington garden.
The herbaceous border showing flowers and foliage, full of colours and texture. This Islington garden is also planted with three tall narrow Amelanchier trees.
The herbaceous border showing flowers and foliage, full of colours and texture. This Islington garden is also planted with three tall narrow Amelanchier trees.
Stage 3

Finished Project

There’s calm reassurance in the repeating rectangles of the lawn, the zinc panel with its soft blue grey patina, and the dark reflective pool, where the clients can be found with their legs dangling over the waters edge.

Pale stone planks of sawn grey sandstone form dynamic edges and paths stride purposefully yet all is softened and merged with the planting. The night-time lighting is a key feature for this Islington garden, providing a subtle up lighting of trees and focal points, with the addition of decorative hanging moon-ray lights from the existing crab apple. The client is able to enjoy the garden year round and into the shorter evenings, the addition of a fire pit providing additional warmth after dusk.

Select an image to enlarge and view more information

This Islington garden with its rectangular lawn is designed with a strong focal view out of the house to a zinc panel and water feature. A sandstone bridge let us cross the gap to a decked seating area.
The lawn of this Islington garden is bordered by two sandstone paving strips and then some herbaceous planting to soften the boundaries. Waterlilies in the basin bring some life to the stillness.
Detail of the herbaceous border in summer showing some Agastache, Nepeta, Erigeron, Penstemon and other flowers in this Islington Garden.
Built in Ipe bench around an existing tree in this Islington garden with a fitted mattress and scattered cushions. Agastache in full bloom at the front.
Detail of the sandstone bridge over the black water and waterlilies. The hardwood deck and built in bench contrast nicely with the soft grey of the stone in this Islington garden.
This water wall creates a subtle and pleasant sound when enjoying the seating area. Some of the plants with grey leaves remind us of the zinc and bring more unity to this Islington garden.
The Amelanchier trees are underplanted with a mix of herbaceous and grasses such as cow parsley, catnip, daisies, agastache and alchmilla. They attract bees and other insects making this Islington garden full of wildlife in the centre of London.
The white Selinum contrast nicely withe blue Agastache and Verbena in this Islington garden, following the contrast in the hard landscaping materials chosen. The planting is wildlife friendly and beautiful in full bloom.
The zinc panel of this Islington garden is seen behind the delicate cow parsley and other perennials. The dainty foliage adds some lightness to the planting scheme.
This wide view of the Islington garden shows off the complimentary colours and materials with the zinc echoed in the herbaceous border. Some subtle details give the garden a particular sense of harmony.
At dusk, this Islington garden is enchanting when the trees are up lit with a warm white LED. The foliage of the cow parsley appears even more delicate.
The focal zinc panel becomes a strong feature from the house when night comes and the lights are turned on. The soft light in the planting attracts your eye to the end of the garden, giving this Islington garden more depth.
The view from this Islington Garden is stunning as the LED spot lights are in harmony with the interior lighting. The soft colours of the planting seem to be dancing in the night.
This photo shows the garden before London Garden Designer had transformed the space.
This plan view was presented at the initial design meeting for this Islington garden. It illustrates our intentions clearly whilst expressing textures, shadows and volumes to the clients.
×
1 / 15
2 / 15
3 / 15
4 / 15
5 / 15
6 / 15
7 / 15
8 / 15
9 / 15
10 / 15
11 / 15
12 / 15
13 / 15
14 / 15
15 / 15

Photos by Marianne Majerus

Testimonial

"Sara Jane Rothwell and her team provided an excellent service. She is both rigorous and artistic in her design, confident in her vision but was also keen to interpret our ideas as fully as possible. It was a lovely experience and I would recommend her highly. The garden is beautiful and much admired."

Residents of Islington Garden