A compact urban garden in London, modeled after Kyoto's style, created by Japanese designer Haruko Seki
Award-Winning Urban Japanese Garden in London
A small urban garden in London, designed by the acclaimed Japanese gardener Haruko Seki, has recently been awarded the Jury Prize at the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers Awards 2025. Despite the garden's designer remaining unidentified in the available search results, the garden's unique charm and beauty have left a lasting impression.
The garden's main feature is the presence of two Japanese maples, Acer palmatum and Acer palmatum Dissectum Viride Group, which dominate the space with their elegant branches. Accompanying these main plants are various shrubs, including Camellia hiemalis 'Kanjirō', Rhododendron japonicum 'Rose King', pieris, and spiraea, strategically positioned in the corners of the planters to blur boundaries and create a harmonious blend.
Purple-leaved plants such as Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla 'Eva' and Heuchera 'Pink Panther' contribute to creating shadows and depth in the garden, while the green, moss-like Soleirolia soleirolii (mind-your-own-business) spreads in and around key plants, joining forces with the stones and gravel covering the soil.
The garden features three 'floating' planters with trees providing screening over 6 meters above ground level, offering a sense of privacy and seclusion. The owner of the garden prefers alternatives to bamboo for screening, opting instead for the natural beauty of these planters.
The owner of the new garden is delighted with the views from the study windows, describing them as 'wonderful pieces of art' which change through the seasons - each season brings a new picture."
Haruko Seki's approach to planting design is inspired by ikebana, a form of art capturing the fleeting beauty of nature and reflecting the essence of life within. Seki emphasizes the importance of leaving a void in the garden to incorporate Japanese sensibilities such as ma, stillness, and subtle transitions of light and sound.
The planters are designed with removable containers and metal frames on heavy-duty castor wheels for ease of access and an undisturbed drain system. For more information about Haruko Seki's work, visit studiolasso.co.uk.
Haruko Seki's design for the garden is a result of experimental and brave design, influenced by the owner's preferences. The garden is a testament to Seki's ability to create a tranquil oasis in the heart of a bustling city, offering a haven for its owner to appreciate the ever-changing beauty of nature.
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