After a successful campaign last year we were invited back again to the Shard to create another Japanese Garden for their 2019 wellness week campaign.
In collaboration with Emulsion Architecture, the Japanese garden was designed to create a space of quiet reflection and escapism for the employees working within the Shard building.
The Shard, London
June 2019
We were invited to create a Japanese Garden within the Eiffel Tower for Mitsubishi Corporation ‘Spacejet’ launch ahead of The Paris Airshow 2019.
The Japanese company wanted a display garden that encapsulated their core values; a foliated quartzite standing stone arrangement represented strength and power, a powder coated shallow basin demonstrated purity and the importance of reflection whilst a Kasuga lantern was placed on the stage to highlight the importance of history and tradition. A variety of plants within planters were also positioned on the stage around a sea of 6mm silver grey gravel consisting of Rhododendron mic ‘bloombux’, Pieris ‘Little Health’, Nandina domestica ‘Richmond’, Fargesia murelae ‘Rufa’ and Japanese blood grass. Specimen plants included a 30-year old Pinus mugo ‘carstens wintergold’, a weeping cedar and an Acer palmatum ‘crimson queen’.
Howard and the team are extremely honoured to have created the first garden display in history within the Eiffel Tower, Paris. The weekend was a great experience that will not be forgotten quickly. We would again like to take the opportunity to thank Mitsubishi Corporation and BCD Meetings & Events for inviting us to be part of this successful and memorable collaboration.
Mitsubishi Corporation, Eiffel Tower Paris
June 2019
The theme of this garden is a ‘sea of gravel’ with lush undulating planting beds surrounding the sea. Bold features within the garden include a 120cm Kanjuji granite lantern, 90cm shallow bachi, blue grey granite feature stones and a Japanese cloud pruned Chamaecyparis amongst many Japanese maples and evergreen planting.
Besides a pre-existing Japanese tea house, a tall granite palisade feature garden was created, with cloud planting at the base complimented by a tall red leaf Acer Palmatum ‘Fireglow’ Japanese maple.
Phase one: The aim for this garden was to present two distinctly different concepts of a Japanese garden, which would work well together when viewed from the house. This project consisted of simple, yet bold elements. Within the lawn, Tenshi standing stones were positioned alongside a cloud tree and red leafed Japanese maple. In the sunken area of the garden existed a Koi pond and waterfall. We introduced a combination of evergreen and seasonal plants within this area. Linking the two levels of the garden is a pathway of silver grey granite irregular stepping stones and silver grey granite paving, next to a palisade retaining wall.
Phase two: Phase two focused on the driveway and front section of the garden. A variety of lush evergreen planting was used in and around bold stone features and specimen Japanese maples were used to inject changing colours throughout the seasons. Characteristic blue grey granite rocks create steps down into a seclude courtyard which contains a water wall and more planting.
Howard and the team were involved in a two-part rejuvenation project of the Japanese Garden at Capel Manor. Work included rebuilding the stream and pond, front entrance and gateway, including creating a stone pathway linking the different areas of the garden together. Students and volunteers associated with Capel Manor College aided Howard in the rejuvenation project.
The Capel Manor Gardens are open to the public throughout the year. See their website for more information www.capelmanorgardens.co.uk
We were approached by the Friends of Hammersmith Park to work on the project of rejuvenating the Japanese garden that exists within Hammersmith Park, London. The garden was originally built in 1910 as part of the Japan-British Exhibition and is a delightful oasis of calm in a busy urban environment.
Working alongside the Embassy of Japan in the UK, the Japan Society, Hammersmith and Fulham Council and the Japanese Garden Society we were commissioned to build and install a traditional Japanese Entrance gate ( Mon ) leading into the Japanese garden. The gateway was hand crafted from ‘green’ Oak, constructed in our workshops, transported to the park and installed. Twenty Kasuga lanterns, each standing 180 cm high, have been located around the Park with twelve lining the avenue of Japanese Cherry blossom trees leading to the gateway. Each lantern was sponsored by a Japanese company, with their names and logos engraved into the stone lanterns.
The work was undertaken during a two week period on site. We would like to thank all of the people involved in the project, from the Embassy, Local Council and the Friends of Hammersmith Park. We thoroughly enjoyed being involved in the project and hope it brings the residents of White City much joy in the years to come.
Phase Two
In 2024 we were asked to design and build another Japanese gateway seen from the other side of the park from the Frithville Gardens entrance. This gateway has been kindly commissioned by Jon Gordon-Smith. Friends of Hammersmith Park will need no introduction to Jon, as he has dedicated significant time and effort since 2008 in raising community awareness and rejuvenation of the Japanese Garden at Hammersmith Park. In September 2023, Ambassador HAYASHI Hajime awarded Jon the Ambassador’s Commendation. This gateway will help provide a legacy for Jon and displays a plaque engraved ‘Jon no mon’ meaning ‘Jon’s gate’.
Once drawings were approved we started making the gateway at our workshop in Kent. It takes time to prepare the oak and mortice in every detail to ensure all the pieces fit together.
Using the Japanese shou sugi ban method of preserving wood by burning we wanted to create an attractive focal point to the underside of the roof section. This process makes the wood more durable and protects it from fire, water and sunlight damage, as well as creating an attractive finish. This Japanese technique dates back to the 18th century.
The roof is clad with traditional cedar shingles. Each shingle is carefully secured, a time consuming process that has an attractive and impressive appearance once complete. The cladding mirrors the original gateway we built on the other side of the park tying the two together.
We were invited to design and install a Japanese garden arrangement within the Shard, one of the most iconic buildings in London. Within the foyer of the building a 10 m2 garden was installed, with an additional 4m2 garden under the staircase. In response to its high popularity, the garden was on display for two weeks; a week longer than originally agreed.
The brief entailed creating an area of tranquility that employees could escape to throughout the working day. Products incorporated into the garden included limestone standing stones, an acer palmatum, Chinese scholar rock covered in bun moss, a sphere water feature, polished pebble seat and a Japanese ladle and rest. The arrangement under the staircase included silver grey granite palisades, a Sumo San granite lantern and rhododendron planting.
The Shard, London
16.5.2018
We were comssiomed to design and build a japanese inspired stream with small pond at this newly developed property. The garden benefits form having year round sun, so creating two seating areas was a key feature of the garden. this allows the client to become immersed in the garden. It also impacts on the design of the stream and pond, as it will be seen from several angles.
This project involved moving and remodelling of an existing Koi pond to fit around a newly built extension. The client wanted to create a tranquil Japanese stroll garden to make use of her side entrance, linking the driveway to the rear of the property.
The central elements of the garden are a modern koi pond, clad with dark grey granite slabs. A natural stream running into the far end of the pond to improve water circulation and bring interest to the garden. A small raised teahouse catches the afternoon sun, and forms a good viewing platform.
Following the success of the first Kimchee in High Holborn, we were again approached to complete an indoor garden for a new Kimchee restaurant to open in the newly developed prestigious Pancras Square, London. We were given a brief by the Japanese architect and Mr. Kim for two different concepts; one at the entrance of the restaurant and one garden on the lower floor. The gardens were built off site at our garden centre in Kent and transported to site to be re-assembled and put in place.
The entrance garden is a modern twist on a Japanese Garden. At the forefront are some natural stones set in a ‘sea of gravel’ and surrounded by moss to represent mountains emerging from the forest. Beyond this, is a contemporary granite water feature. We were given a cad illustration of the proposed water feature, this was to form the illusion of a series of natural waterfalls. From this, we made a prototype to ensure that the proportions were correct to fit the space. We commissioned a Factory in Portugal to make the water feature. In total the water feature took 6-8 weeks from concept to completion. In the third section of the garden is more traditional Japanese garden elements, being an Oribe sand stone lantern from Japan and a large Raphis Palm.
The lower basement garden comprises of a large granite trough; a bamboo water spout feeds the trough. The water is illuminated with a low level LED strip tape. The external surface is covered by silver grey cobbles. The trough sits in front of a granite clad wall, which we had custom manufactured for this project in Spain. Although a very simple concept, it has produced a striking feature, enhancing the restaurants atmosphere.
Pictures of the finished gardens can be seen below.
Kimchee Korean Restaurant
Feb 2017
