Portfolios Archive - The Japanese Garden Centre

Courtyard Garden, Essex

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 45m²
Build time: 2 weeks

We created a dark grey granite floating path above the main planting beds. The paving was cut in situ to create a curving path through the garden. As the courtyard is between two walls of the house, this presented the opportunity to create a tranquil garden that has several viewpoints.

In the corner of the courtyard is a stepping stone pathway leading to a seating area consisting of two silver grey curved granite benches. A water feature with traditional kneeling stones and Scottish cobbles is positioned nearby so the tranquil sound of running water can be heard while sitting in the garden. A shallow corten steel bowl was powder coated dark grey to provide a modern twist on a Japanese water basin arrangement. Feeding the water feature is a horizontal bamboo spout. The back of the horizontal spout is hidden within evergreen planting. Alongside the water feature is low ground cover planting consisting of ophiopogon nigrescens, ophiopogon minor and mind your own business*. There is also an ilex crenata cloud tree.

Directly in front is a 90cm Kodai Maru Yukimi granite lantern with an electric light which creates low ambient lighting in the evening. Near the lantern is evergreen planting of Pittosporum and ferns. Opposite this bed is a Tenshi standing stone arrangement of 3 rocks which are underplanted with Bloombux Rhododendron. Behind the standing stones are Nandina domestica planted in a dark grey planter and a tall green leaf Japanese Acer.

The planting beds were top dressed in 6mm silver grey zen gravel.

*This project was completed in April 2021. We visited the garden again in August 2022 and some pictures shown here show the spread of low ground cover plants since planting.

Client

Private garden, Essex

Project Date

April 2021

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Modern Japanese Garden, Kent

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 90m²
Build time: 2 weeks

To the front of the house we created small planting beds to frame the front of the house and break up the view of hard paving. Blue grey granite feature rocks in a bed of Scottish cobbles with evergreen planting consisting of pieris japonica, bloombux rhododendrons and a low spreading cotoneaster, amongst other plants.

The near garden we laid mostly to lawn. Curved beds frame the garden which are retained with granite palisade edging and granite setts as the height of the bed reduces. The beds are filled with blue grey granite rockery stone, evergreen low spreading planting and evergreen shrubs. Red and green leaf Acers provide height and a colour contrast to the fence behind. A 150cm Kasuga granite lantern sits proudly in a corner of the bed which is top dressed with Scottish cobbles.

Near the house is a 90cm shallow basin with a horizontal bamboo spout. The basin is a corten steel bowl which has been powder coated for a modern twist for a Japanese water basin arrangement. This water feature can be seen from within the house and creates a quiet, tranquil sound heard when sat on the patio. The water feature is surrounded by 6mm silver grey zen gravel. The rear of the spout is partially hidden by low evergreen planting. On the other side of the patio is a small silver grey zen gravel bed with a 3 stone Tenshi standing stone grouping which is underplanted with evergreen shrubs.

Client

Private Garden, Kent

Project Date

July 2022

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Japanese Garden, Guildford

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 360m²
Build time: 10 weeks

This project was part of a new build which meant we were able to start with a complete blank canvas. Following the client’s brief we started with creating a pond which is one of the main focal points within the garden. At the far end of the garden a 9m stream flows into the pond. The stream was built into the raised bank alongside evergreen Japanese planting. The raised beds are retained with silver grey palisades and topped with bark chippings. A granite arched bridge crosses over the stream, leading to a stepping stone pathway that takes you across the pond and to a large covered seating area. The stepping stone pathway is set into a bed of silver grey zen gravel with a variety of planting including low ground spreading mind your own business underneath a specimen pittosporum tree. Along side the pathway are tall granite guide lights that provide ambient lighting across the path in the evenings.

The Japanese stream is made up from blue grey granite rockery stone and this stone is also featured throughout the garden creating bold standing stone arrangements in and around Japanese planting.

Client

Private Garden, Guildford

Project Date

June 2022

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Japanese Stream

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 110m²
Build time: 2 weeks

Connecting the Japanese garden to the rest of the lawn garden is a natural slate bridge across a stream. The central focus of this garden is a 4m long Japanese stream, surrounded by various evergreen shrubs, including sedum ground cover, bloombux and pittosporum. At the end of the stream is a small cobbled beach with a Misaki granite lantern. Tobi-ishi stepping stones lead to a paved area suitable for a bench to be placed. Feature rocks include blue grey granite and purple slate standing stone arrangements in a bed of 14mm silver grey zen granite. The majority of plants used in this garden are evergreen, providing the garden with stability and interest throughout the year. Low growing plants included ferns and ophiopogon nigrens. Choysia provide a subtle scent while pieris japonica and bloombux rhododendrons flower in summer. Adding height to the garden, a cherry and bamboo fargesia were planted alongside Japanese Acers. Acers provide contrasting colours and dramatic autumnal colours before the leaves drop in winter.

Client

Private Garden, Oxford

Project Date

October 2021

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Japanese Walled Garden

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 120m²
Build time: 7 weeks

Entering through a traditional Japanese gateway a flat granite bridge and stepping stone pathway lead you through the garden, with seas of gravel and planted islands either side. To the rear to the garden are two seated areas; one with a fire pit and circular seating, and an alternative natural stone bench in front of facade tea house. A specimen chamaecyparis cloud tree and 3 Tenshi stone grouping separate the two seating areas.

Providing the tranquil sound of running water is a 90cm shallow granite basin with a horizontal bamboo spout. A large 90cm Kodai Maru Yukimi granite lantern was also featured in the garden.

Wooden fences were replaced with traditional Japanese wall panelling with cedar shingle roof. A decorative shoji window was installed on the wall.

The planting scheme was mostly devised using evergreen plants that provide interest and structure to the garden throughout the year. Rhododendron Bloombux were planted in groups throughout the garden, displaying an abundance of pink flowers in June. Both red and green variety Japanese Acers were planted to provide vibrant colours in spring and summer with dramatic autumn colours.

Client

Private Garden, Dachet

Project Date

May 2021

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Natural swim pond and garden

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 925 m²
Build time: 5 months

The brief for this project was to turn an existing swimming pool into a 140,000 litre natural swim pond with Japanese landscaping. The existing pool house was replaced with an open building for alfresco dining, an outdoor kitchen complete with a pizza oven. Between the two buildings we installed an outdoor shower with changing area. Adjacent to the outdoor kitchen is a sunken seating area with gabion benches.

The natural swim pond complete with a large regeneration zone is fed by a 7m long natural stream. At the other end of the swim pond we constructed a second stream, approximately 30m long which gently flows down into a large pre-existing pond. A Japanese style zig-zag slate bridge crosses the regeneration zone at one end. Linking the house to the garden is a dark grey granite pathway leading to a composite decking jetty. Paving and decking are continued on the other side of the pond to provide additional seating areas.

Japanese Maples provide vibrant spring, summer and autumn colour with a variety of evergreen planting providing all year round structure to the garden, including a large specimen Chamaecyparis ‘cloud’ tree. A variety of aquatic plants were used in the regeneration zone which help to naturally filter and clean the water.

Additional work in this garden includes a long timber Pergola planted with Wisteria leading to a traditional Japanese Entrance gate with side wings to screen the garden from the boundary.

Behind the main garden, we designed and constructed a fully insulated gym, complete with a sauna and floor-to-ceiling mirrors.

Client

Private Garden Kent

Project Date

October 2020

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Japanese Tea House, London

ABOUT THE PROJECT

We were asked to design and construct a modern Japanese tea house within a pre-existing Japanese garden. The tea house is fully insulated, with elegant sliding doors and large windows. A cedar shingle roof completes the Japanese tea house.

A bespoke Japanese bridge was made to cross the existing stream. The bridge was made with precise attention to detail and finished with golden finials that were imported from Japan.

Modern Japanese Garden, Canterbury.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 75m²
Build time: 4 weeks

Within this garden a modern 60cm shallow water basin sits within a sea of 14mm silver grey zen gravel. Behind is a raised planting bed with a 75cm Kanju-ji granite lantern and a variety of Japanese planting including a Japanese Maple, pittosporum tom thumb and pieris japonica little heath. The bed is retained using silver grey palisades which were cut at different lengths for added interest. A large Ilex Cloud tree was planted within a modern grey planter. Another raised bed with rockery stone and evergreen planting to the rear of the garden. Along the side fence bamboo was planted in large modern planters.

Dark-grey granite paving forms the patio, with Japanese planing and a wooden trellis.

Japanese Tea House, Berkshire

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 14m²
Build time: 4 weeks

With a pre-existing stream, our client wanted a traditional Japanese tea house to compliment their Japanese garden. In front of the tea house we constructed a traditional Japanese water feature using a natural bamboo spout and a 45cm Natsume bachi.

The building is approximately 4.30m by 3.10m, with a composite deck to the front. The building is fully insulated and the roof is finished with Canadian Cedar shingles. The external walls are furnished with traditional shoji windows and a fully functioning crawl hole. The tea house sits beside the stream with one leg overhanging the pond. A low energy heating system was installed to allow year-round use.

Internally the floor was covered in Tatami mats with a narrow timber frame securing them in place. A raised Tokonoma and display area was created in one corner.

Client

Berkshire

Project Date

2019

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

School Garden, Kent

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 130m²
Build time: 3 weeks

A Japanese waiting arbour was at our workshop and installed in the corner of the garden providing an attractive focal point and seating area for pupils and staff. In front of the waiting arbour is a patio of dark grey granite paving with straight benches. Beside is a raised bed containing a traditional japanese water feature and a three stone Tenshi grouping and evergreen planting. Another bed created by silver grey palisades is reflected on the opposite side, with a 128cm Oribe lantern, natural stone arrangement and evergreen planting. Within the centre of the garden is a seating area created by 3 silver grey curved granite benches.

A narrow bed continues down the length of the garden featuring silver grey palisades standing stone arrangement and blue grey granite feature rocks with a variety of evergreen shrubs.