The Corten Garden - wraparound garden built by Refined Landscapes

Corten Steel Garden Design The Corten Garden

Knebworth, Hertfordshire 2021

Project Story

Designed by Rebecca Morgan

Corten steel brings a contemporary edge to this wraparound garden. Designed by Rebecca Morgan and built with harvest sawn London Stone, bullnose steps, pencil-round copings, yellow brickwork and Adezz screens, the garden balances traditional structure with a warmer sculptural focus.

The Finished Garden
Louvred pergola over a seating terrace with pale paving and brick walls
Harvest sawn London Stone paving with yellow brickwork and Corten features
Steel Adezz screens and Corten focal features in a contemporary Hertfordshire garden
Dining terrace on Harvest sawn London Stone with a Corten fire bowl and steel screens beyond
Brick-faced raised bed with pencil-round copings beside the house
The louvred pergola and terrace seen from the lawn beside the house
Raised water feature with aquatic planting beside the pergola seating
Gravel path through the productive garden with a greenhouse and cottage planting
Bullnose steps and terrace running along the side of the house towards the pergola
Raised water feature framed by the pergola and brick walls

The challenge, our solution and our approach

The Challenge

The garden needed a more composed wraparound structure that could feel traditional in its material language while still carrying a contemporary edge. The key challenge was to resolve the paving, steps, copings, brickwork and feature screens with enough precision that the stronger metal elements became focal points rather than visual clutter.

Our Solution

The build uses Harvest sawn London Stone as the principal paving material, with large-format bullnose steps and pencil-round copings giving the level changes a refined, softened edge. Contrasting yellow brickwork introduces warmth and definition, while steel Adezz screens and Corten features provide a sculptural contemporary counterpoint. The neutral colours and pale walling allow the metalwork to read clearly as a focal layer within the garden.

In Detail

Our Approach

The Corten Garden works because it is not purely contemporary and not purely traditional. Its character comes from the tension between the two: a calm stone and brick framework set against stronger Corten and steel details. That contrast gives the garden presence without making it feel overdesigned.

If you are considering a project of a similar character, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can help.

Steel Adezz screens and Corten focal features in a contemporary Hertfordshire garden

The services behind this garden: Garden Construction · Outdoor Living

Project Details

Paving & Surfaces

  • Harvest sawn London Stone paving
  • Large-format bullnose steps
  • Pencil-round copings
  • Neutral colours and pale walling

Walls & Metalwork

  • Contrasting yellow brickwork
  • Steel Adezz screens
  • Corten steel focal features

Features

  • Water feature
  • Wraparound garden structure
  • Traditional material language with contemporary detailing
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