kensington

chimney roof garden

kensington, london

completed

2008

client

private

size

26m2

photography

helen fickling

 

The advent of large sliding doors has transformed gardens as they become constantly on display and have to look good day and night all year round. Plants of course contribute their bit but in this small space, structure was everything.  I designed this as one might a picture or stage set – to be seen from the front.  Bounded by the sort of chimney pots from which Dick van Dyke might appear there was a lot to work with already but the garden really relies on the benches and sculpture plinth

I firmly believe that in a small garden everything must be multifunctional and the design should be thoroughly practical; broad steps and low walls can double up as occasional seating for a party, a built in bench can have storage underneath and a feature wall might act as a foil for planting which can be transformed by lighting at night

Kensington