Two courtyard gardens reworked into one garden space, for a pair of Roy Grounds’ designed mid-1950s townhouses. Double-height windows span the width of the house, providing beautiful framing to the garden which is densely planted and includes established trees, a linking wide set of steps and crazy paved areas. The rectilinear architecture called for some balance in the garden. Inspired by Grounds’ gold award-winning home adjacent – a square format opening inwards to a circular courtyard – both garden areas are set to a circle within a square. The lower courtyard comprises a crazy paved terrace continuing the curved line around a circular lawn and central feature tree. The upper courtyard with central Arbutus canariensis is surrounded by a circle of widely-set crazy pavers. Strong sculptural elements of white marble in the upper garden, and black steel in the lower, provide balance to the lush greenery.

Renovation by Lee Harper Design
Construction by View Landscaping
Photography by Rob Blackburn and Kate Seddon