This Richmond Road garden in inner-city Bristol belongs to a young couple, two whippets and a household that likes to fill its outdoor space with people. South-west facing and just 5 by 12 metres, the garden had lost most of its light to large trees. With renovation works underway inside the house, the clients needed an outdoor space that could keep up, somewhere flexible enough for dinner parties and gatherings whilst still giving mystery and excitement.

The answer was a large, functional terrace built level with the house so it reads as an extension of the kitchen rather than a separate space. It works just as well as an intimate coffee spot or a place to work as it does hosting a full party. A bespoke office and shed, built using the existing brick wall, divides the garden and breaks up the sight lines, while abundant, immersive planting turns the whole thing into a serene inner city sanctuary.