A retreat among trees


When our client’s mother decided to relocate from the North of England to join her daughter’s family in London, the need arose for a small, self-contained space where she could live independently, yet feel close to home. The site, a long garden behind a Grade II listed townhouse in Stockwell, offered the perfect setting. At its far end, beneath the protective canopy of a magnificent tree, a space was found that felt both secluded and connected.

The brief was deeply personal: a room of her own. A quiet, private place for living, resting, and contemplation, with enough comfort to feel like home, and enough character to feel special. It needed to be modest in size, rich in atmosphere, and sensitive to its listed context and natural surroundings.















 “The aesthetic aspirations were for a building that would nestle comfortably under the soaring Ash tree and, at the same time, share a degree of connection with the main house. The charred timber cladding is not only beautiful in its own right, but seamlessly integrates with its green surrounds, as well as mirroring the black paintwork of the main house.  The pergola structure provides a surprisingly roomy porch and acts as a natural bridge to the garden.

Exposed timber ceiling joists that add a pleasing touch of complexity to the interior. An unexpected building, it creates a delightful courtyard effect within the walled garden.  The simple yet characterful interior creates an inviting and relaxing haven – connected to the main building but, at the same time, discreetly apart from it.”









The Garden Room was designed to sit lightly in its landscape, more pavilion than annex, more garden structure than house. It replaces an underused terrace, now reimagined as a series of layered thresholds: garden, pergola, room. A charred timber exterior gives the building a recessive, shadowed quality, allowing it to blend into its setting. In contrast, the interior is pale and luminous, defined by natural materials and filtered light.


The new structure is approached beneath a timber pergola, which extends from the garden to the façade, mediating the boundary between public and private. Trellised sliding screens provide privacy while allowing light and air to flow freely. One circular opening, like a moon cut through the timber screen, frames a generous view of the garden and creates a focal moment of delight.



































Inside, the space is open plan but carefully zoned. A full-height cupboard wall conceals a small shower room, maintaining the ceiling’s visual continuity. Overhead, diagonal joists, like abstracted tree branches, cross the ceiling in all directions. Skylights punctuate the roof, drawing dappled light into the space and connecting it to the tree canopy above. Birch plywood walls and Douglas Fir flooring bring a quiet warmth and strong natural grain to the surfaces underfoot.














The result is a peaceful and surprising retreat, a building that feels intimate yet expansive, quietly immersed in its surroundings. Its environmental impact is minimal: a lightweight timber frame on screw piles protects the tree roots, and the structure is highly insulated, naturally ventilated, and efficiently heated with electric underfloor coils. Every detail is about doing more with less, not just environmentally, but spatially and emotionally.

For its occupant, it is a deeply personal haven. For the wider household, it has brought new joy and meaning to the garden, a space that now feels more expansive, more alive. The pergola invites climbing plants and seasonal change, and at night, the circular opening glows softly like a lantern through the trees. The Garden Room is a testament to what small architecture can achieve: generosity of spirit, a closeness to nature, and the quiet dignity of a room of one’s own.









Photography: @ David Grandorge