Portfolios Archive - The Japanese Garden Centre

Japanese Garden, Surrey

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 429m²
Build time: 6 weeks

A meandering pathway takes you on a journey through a tiered garden. As you enter the first level of the garden to the right of the path are 3 vertical palisades with evergreen underplanting in a bed of 6mm silver grey Zen gravel. Ahead is a shallow water basin arrangement and 60cm Kodai Maru Yukimi snow lantern. Kuro basalt cobbles lay around the base of the water basin, with kneeling stones and evergreen planting beside. The rest of the bed consists of 6mm silver-grey zen gravel, feature rocks, bamboo four eye fencing and ground cover planting. A stepping stone pathway through the gravel leads to a beige granite curved bench.

Stepping down to the next tier we designed and constructed a Japanese summerhouse with a shoji door and shoji window for added interest. The summerhouse overlooks an area of grass with a Kasuga lantern and panoramic views.

Carrying on along the path down to the next tier, the path leads around a ‘Fishermans net’ with silver-grey granite palisades, Zen gravel and a variety of evergreen planting such as Pieris, Bloombux rhododendron and Nandina domestica. Further down the path is a palisade monolith arrangement and evergreen planting.

Client

Private Garden, Oxted

Project Date

August, 22

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Stroll Garden, Cambridge

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 80m²
Build time: 6 weeks

The inspiration for this garden was an Island wrapping around sea. 6mm silver grey zen gravel depicts the sea, with a large feature rock in the center with raked gravel that represents ripples in the water. The Island is edged with granite setts and planted with a variety of deciduous and evergreen planting. Nearest the house and in the central viewpoint from the kitchen and patio doors is a traditional water feature. A 60cm shallow bachi is fed by a horizontal bamboo spout, with kneeling stones and mixed cobbles. Beside the water feature is a 60cm Narabe Yukimi granite lantern. Behind the water feature is a four-eye bamboo fence with a variety of evergreen plants to create all year-round interest.

Towards the end of the garden we created a stepping stone pathway through an area previously planted with silver birch. On the other side of the island are blue-grey granite feature rocks with dwarf rhododendron Bloombux around a dark grey stone patio.

Client

Private Garden, Cambridge

Project Date

June'23

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Internal Courtyard Gardens

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 8m²
Build time: 2 weeks

Our client had recently extended their house and it now includes two courtyards open to the elements but fully contained within the property. Impressive full-length windows allow for natural light and dramatic views of the internal gardens from several angles within the living space.

Courtyard one was designed to represent the external facade of a Japanese residence with a Shoji door and window looking out from the ‘house’ into the courtyard garden. We created a small timber deck made from traditional Shou Sugi Ban ‘charred’ wood. The narrow roof section was finished using rustic cedar shakes. Three self-watering planters containing a green-leaf Japanese Acer, an evergreen Pittosporum Tom thumb and Bloombux rhododendron are positioned next to a bespoke black granite water feature. Silver-grey Zen gravel finishes off the garden.

Courtyard two ties in visually with the first courtyard by featuring a narrow ‘wall panel’ with a circular Shoji window under cedar shakes. A Tenshi stone grouping, evergreen planting and a specimen Ilex Crenata ‘cloud’ tree completes this very small garden. The floor is covered with silver-grey Zen gravel and low-spreading ground cover plants.

Client

Private Garden, London

Project Date

March,22

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Japanese Garden, Bath

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 42m²
Build time: 5 weeks

To access the garden from the house are three natural stepping stones that dissect a raised bed and lead to a pathway through 6mm silver-grey zen gravel. A tall Japanese Acer is positioned in the corner with low evergreen plants such as Ophiopogon nigrescens and dwarf rhododendron Bloombux. The raised bed is edged with silver-grey palisades. On the otherside, a water basin arrangement is positioned in front of the Oriel window. A long horizontal bamboo spout feeds a contemporary basin with water cascading down a short stream. Next to the water feature is a red weeping Japanese Acer, bench seating within the border and another Japanese Acer of a green variety. The green acer is part of a third raised bed which includes a 3 Tenshi standing stone feature with dwarf Rhododendron Bloombux underplanting.

To the right of the pathway is a raised bed with a Carstens Wintergold specimen cloud tree and 60cm Kodai Maru Yukimi granite lantern. All the raised beds are top-dressed with Scottish cobbles.

Along the rear boundary are bespoke wooden fences with Shou Sugi Ban finish. In the center is a pergola, also finished with Shou Sugi Ban and dark grey granite paving. On either side of the pergola are corten planters with tall bamboo.

Client

Private garden, Bath

Project Date

March 2023

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

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.