Shaping up
A south London garden has been transformed into an elegant retreat with precision-cut concrete and sublimely understated planting
JODIE JONES
PHOTOGRAPHS LISA LINDER
IN BRIEF
What Private garden. Where South London. 6m x 6m. Soil Compacted clay and builders’ rubble. Climate Temperate. Hardiness zone USDA 9.
Even in its first year, the planting in Caroline and Ben Lawrence’s London garden has filled out to blur the boundaries of their tiny space, making it feel much bigger than it is.
In a small space it is important to get every detail right; the bespoke fence made from two different widths of chamfered boards in red cedar with precise 6mm gaps between battens.
Left Created by Swiss designer Willy Guhl in 1954, the concrete Loop chair is a contemporary classic that doubles here as sculpture and seating.
Below The concrete slabs were carefully spaced to create planting pockets for cushiony mounds of Soleirolia soleirolii, which is kept close trimmed to curtail its invasive habit.
Above The stilt hedge of pre-trained betulus was expensive and awkward to carry through the newly renovated house, but it created an instant screen and a sense of scale.
Right Pale pebbles were a practical choice to fill an existing French drain next to the house, but also referenced the curves of the overall design in this rectilinear space.
Below Clumps of Rudbeckia fulgida var.
‘Goldsturm’ are spaced around the garden, producing masses of golden daisies.