“The Shape of Time” is a landscape design project for The Old Rectory in Dishforth, North Yorkshire, a historic Grade II listed Georgian property. The concept transforms a disjointed garden space into a cohesive, multi-functional family environment that honors its heritage context while addressing modern structural issues like a lack of privacy, poor indoor-outdoor transitions, and deep shade cast by mature trees. Inspired by Yorkshire’s rich 400-million-year geological history, the “big idea” guides visitors through a chronological story of Earth’s botanical evolution as they move across the property. Zoned carefully to maximize the entire site, the layout incorporates distinct family areas including a 3-car parking zone, an indoor/outdoor kitchen barn, multiple entertaining terraces, a productive garden, and a dedicated teen hangout complete with a stone fire pit.

The Challenge: The Middle Field of Ladywell Fields serves as a vital ecological corridor in South East London, but it currently functions primarily as a “transitional” space—a place people pass through rather than stay in. The design brief required the creation of a restorative, social landscape for new hospital staff residents and the wider public, balancing private quietude with communal interaction. The Big Idea: The design is structured by the geometry of enlarged, smooth, angular pebbles—inspired by the stones of the River Ravensbourne. Rather than placing objects within a field, the pebble shapes themselves define the site’s plazas, terraces, seating areas, and gardens. The “negative space” between these forms creates flowing channels for movement, water, and social activity.

The Nest Garden is a conceptual redesign of the grounds surrounding Cambridge Cottage, an historic event venue within Kew Gardens. Inspired by the idea of a nest as a place of gathering, protection, and celebration, the design transforms an underused lawn into a series of interconnected outdoor rooms that support weddings and year-round events. The proposal introduces a woodland-inspired ceremony space, intimate retreat gardens, and flexible reception areas connected by curvilinear paths and layered planting. A redesigned accessible route improves circulation and inclusivity while creating a more welcoming arrival experience. This project demonstrates skills in site analysis, concept development, spatial planning, accessibility design, planting design, and 3D visualisation, balancing heritage character with a contemporary landscape approach.

The Dwelling is a conceptual redesign of a Grade II listed Victorian garden in South London. Responding to significant level changes, drainage challenges, and the needs of a growing family, the design creates a seamless relationship between house and garden while balancing practical requirements with a calm, immersive landscape experience. Inspired by Japanese garden principles and Heidegger’s concept of dwelling, the proposal transforms changes in level into opportunities for gathering, exploration, and reflection. A sequence of terraces, productive planting, wildlife habitats, and family spaces creates a garden that evolves through the seasons and encourages a deeper connection with nature. The project demonstrates skills in site analysis, concept development, residential landscape design, grading and drainage considerations, planting design, technical drawing, and 3D visualisation.