garden design

I work across London and the South East creating beautiful outdoor spaces characterised by by a focus on richly textured planting and a delicate palette with striking traditional elements. My gardens are designed boldly but hold themselves lightly and are contemporary explorations inspired by classic garden forms which gives them a fresh but timeless quality.

I explore the history and context of each site in parallel with your current needs to create designs that could only exist for a particular location. I believe every garden should create sustainable spaces that work for people and the planet and the considered use and re-use of materials underpins my designs. 

If you’re interested in exploring how I might be able to help you please get in touch hello@haar-studio.co.uk

full garden design

From small urban courtyards through to large country gardens, I offer a full garden design service for all types of outdoor spaces.

We will discuss exactly what will be most appropriate for your circumstances and budget, but it can include the following elements:

Site survey and analysis - to understand your garden conditions and what you’d like to achieve from your outdoor space.

Concept design - generating one or two ideas for your space, including the types of hard landscaping and look and feel of the planting.

Detailed design - once we’ve agreed on a concept design I will work on developing all the detailed design elements including technical drawings and detailed planting plans.

Tendering for a contractor - I can oversee the process to appoint a contractor for your garden, including producing the tender pack and managing the procurement process.

Site visits during the build - whilst your garden is being built by your contractor I can conduct regular site visits to monitor progress, respond to changes and ensure the project is built according to the plans.

Planting - once your garden has been built I will ensure that the planting is done to the agreed plan and you’re left with a beautiful garden to enjoy. I can also provide maintenance plans so that you can continue to get the most out of your plants as the garden develops.

planting design

If you have existing beds which need an overhaul, or lots of new planting areas to create, I can help you to develop a planting scheme to bring them to life. This service doesn’t look at your hard landscaping options (e.g. paving, drainage etc) and instead just focuses on your plants.

I will create a detailed planting plan for you and work with nurseries to source everything you need. Once the plants are delivered to your home I will set them out in the garden and plant them up (it’s great when clients get involved in the planting too so I would encourage you to work alongside me on some of the planting if you’re keen - you’ll learn lots and it’s really enjoyable!)

consultations

Perhaps you have a tricky spot in your garden you would like some ideas for, a corner where nothing grows, a neighbour you want to screen, a seating area which just isn’t working? I offer short consultations to help you make the most of your outdoor space - these will usually involve a visit or online meeting where we’ll look at your space and what you’re trying to achieve and I will then follow up with a short pack of ideas on planting and materials.

A selection of my garden designs

‘NO WASTE’ GARDEN IN EAST LONDON

Design for a ‘no waste’ large family garden in East London, utilising all the waste products from the house renovation to create an inviting, environmentally conscious garden. Builders waste was crushed to create planting substrate, hardcore for paths and scuptural water bowls, old bricks reused to create patios, border edging and a firepit and old floorboards used to create outdoor furniture.

In progress - due to complete Spring 2025

re-imagined terrace garden in south london

Design for a South London courtyard, repurposing existing materials to create a soft, relaxing and textured space.

courtyard in north london

Design for a North London terrace, utilising the existing gabion wall to create an enveloping, private sanctuary.

HELICON GARDEN IN NORTH YORKSHIRE

Inspired by the partially excavated layers of the Helicon mosaic at the nearby Aldborough Roman Site, this family garden in North Yorkshire explored a modern, subtle and ‘Yorkshire’ spin on classical Roman garden areas such an impluvium pool, atrium entertaining area and ambulatories through a woodland area. 

warp and weft garden in Amersham

The garden for this mid-century house on the edge of the Chilterns was inspired by the textures and intricacies of the mid-century ‘Ark panels for Temple B’nai Israel’ by Anni Albers, the restrained use of materials and lush planting of Geoffrey Bawa’s Tropical Modernism in Sri Lanka and the strong horizontal and vertical forms and use of social spaces showcased through Desert Modernism in the USA. 

CLAY FARM ARTIST RETREAT IN WILTSHIRE

Based on a disused farm in Wiltshire, Clay Farm is my re-imagining of a 21 acre creative retreat which supports ceramicists with young children by providing an artist residency programme with beautiful outdoor spaces.

The site becomes a celebration of clay, with clay being dug for use by the artists, productive woodland fuelling the wood-fired kilns, broken ceramics creating planting substrate and the history and ‘cracks’ in the site being celebrated through the idea of kintsugi.