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Contemporary Courtyard Garden

DESIGNER: Paul Dracott

The brief was to create a space suitable for entertaining clients, reflecting the image of the company, however this courtyard was to be within a family garden and be suitable for family use.

The new layout was to divide the lawned garden and utility area and enclose a courtyard that could reflect contemporary interior office décor.

Modern materials, vibrant colours and a child safe moving water element were all to be included. The area immediately adjacent to the house was used mainly for storage and was surfaced in shingle, flagstones and cast concrete.

'Courtyard Before'

'Courtyard After'

The new design aimed to create an extension to the office with a strong focal point to lead visitors out into the courtyard. This was achieved by mounting a stainless steel water shoot in a rendered wall and framing the resulting water sheet with a palm and grasses. A decision was taken to use hardwood timber decking to disguise the varying floor levels of the property and leave access to the large number of inspection chambers in the area. Between the two decks a shallow rill covered with galvanised grid was used.

The courtyard was separated from the traditional lawned garden by the rendered wall with a gate of galvanised grid and a pergola of stainless steel poles and cables above one deck eased the transition from office to courtyard. To extend the use of the area beyond daylight, the courtyard was lit in blue and white. Blue LED strip lights beneath the steel grids reinforced this strong element of the design and white uplighting and grazing created atmosphere.