Contemporary Garden Design The Floating Terrace
Project Story
One clear architectural gesture anchors this contemporary garden. A pale stone plane appears to hover above the lawn, creating calm outdoor rooms for dining and lounging, while corten-edged planting islands, grasses and perennials soften the geometry and bring seasonal movement.
Project Gallery
The challenge, our solution and our approach
The Challenge
The brief was to create a bold, contemporary garden that matched the architecture of the house, while keeping the space feeling open and uncluttered. The site needed generous areas for entertaining and day-to-day living, but also a planting scheme that would soften the hard landscaping and add seasonal interest without becoming busy. It was important that the design worked from the inside looking out, and that each zone felt connected while still having its own purpose.
Our Solution
We designed a single large-format stone terrace that reads as a clean, floating plane above the lawn, giving the garden a strong architectural centre. Crisp steel edging defines sculpted planting islands, keeping the geometry sharp while allowing the planting to feel relaxed and naturalistic. Grasses and perennials bring movement and texture through the seasons, and the terrace is arranged to support both dining and lounging with an easy, understated flow.
In Detail
Our Approach
Contemporary gardens succeed when they commit to a clear idea and execute it with precision. For this 3,872 sq ft garden in Codicote, Hertfordshire, the design centres on a single bold gesture: a large-format porcelain terrace that reads as a floating plane above the surrounding lawn. Corten steel edging defines sculpted planting islands that break the geometry with organic, naturalistic form, creating a dialogue between architecture and nature that feels resolved and intentional.
The planting scheme is designed to do the expressive work within a disciplined framework. Drifts of ornamental grasses, Persicaria and Salvia bring movement, texture and seasonal colour, while Hydrangea arborescens and Lavandula provide structure and fragrance at the terrace edge. The result is a garden that feels open, generous and contemporary, working as beautifully from the kitchen window as it does from the lounger.
We design gardens that match the ambition and quality of the homes they sit alongside. If you are considering a contemporary garden project in Codicote, Hitchin or the surrounding Hertfordshire area, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can help.
The services behind this garden: Garden Construction · Garden Design · Planting Design · Wellness Gardens
The Build
From groundworks to the final finishing touches.
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Groundwork & Levels
Precision levelling across the site to create the floating terrace effect, with subbase preparation for the large-format porcelain paving and installation of Corten steel edging to define planting islands.
3 weeks
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Terrace & Paving
Installation of large-format pale porcelain paving across the main terrace, with careful attention to joint lines and drainage falls to maintain the clean, uninterrupted plane.
4 weeks
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Steel Edging & Planting Beds
Fabrication and setting of Corten steel edging to create the sculpted planting islands. Soil preparation and conditioning of all planting beds.
3 weeks
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Planting & Finishing
Installation of ornamental grasses, perennials and ground cover planting within the steel-edged islands, along with lawn establishment and final detailing.
4 weeks
Project Details
Paving & Surfaces
- Large-format pale porcelain paving
- Corten steel step edging
- Gravel mulch detailing
- Flush threshold transitions
Edging & Metalwork
- Corten steel planting bed edging
- Curved steel island profiles
- Concealed drainage channels
Planting
- Ornamental grasses (Miscanthus, Festuca)
- Persicaria and Salvia drifts
- Hydrangea arborescens
- Lavandula edging
- Ground cover perennials
Outdoor Living
- Dining terrace zone
- Lounge seating area
- Parasol anchoring system
- Integrated garden lighting
Begin Your Journey
Every great garden begins with a conversation. Let’s talk about yours.