The Signwriter’s Garden

This steeply sloped residential garden is inspired by the simplicity of Japanese & Scandinavian design: Simple, elegant and beautiful in its form & functionality.

The Signwriter's Garden in Whitstable, Kent.

The Brief

Turn this awkward and difficult to use space into a garden for work & relaxation. Add an artists studio, more room for dining & entertaining and kick-start a new planting scheme for the home-owners to enjoy. Reflect the mid-century style of the house.

The Garden

A garden designed around a series of carefully considered levels, creating more usable space for life outside. A stepped pathway leads through the garden to a bespoke cabin at the rear, providing a dedicated creative studio for my client to work from home. Modest in size, but rich in thoughtful design details, beautiful materials and quality finishes throughout.

The Design concept for this sloped garden in Whitstable, by Mark Hardy Garden Design.

Welcome to The Sign-Writers Garden & Studio

I recently collaborated with Hythe Garden Landscapes on the build for this wonderful residential garden in Whitstable, Kent.

The garden at this Mid-century property is on a steep slope. The brief was to create a more usable outside space, with a new creative studio for the homeowner (who is a very talented sign-writer).

This is a very creative household deserving of an equally creative garden, inspired by the asymmetry & simplicity of Japanese and Scandinavian design. Build materials are robust, using Corten Steel, Jatoba wood, Kentish charred panelling and mega-bright powder coated orange windows. Planting throughout the garden is low maintenance and will be beautiful to look at all year round. This garden is all about subtle design details and quality build materials that feel ‘just right’ next to a mid-century house: rust coloured clay pavers contrasting with natural grey Limestone, bespoke Corten steel metalwork and a subtle exterior lighting scheme.