19/08/2026
Project Case Study - From Structural Security Works to a Bespoke Urban Retreat - Islington, London N5
Contractor - Oakfield Landscaping London / Settle Petal Floral Design
Project Manager - Mr Ashley Titre
Phase 2 - Groundworks, structural landscaping & external carpentry
Project Overview
This Islington project is a great example of how Oakfield Landscaping approaches a challenging London garden: first resolve the structure, levels and security, then build the high-end finishes and lifestyle elements around them.
The finished garden is being designed as a sophisticated urban retreat, combining artisanal polished sandstone paving, slim-format herringbone pavers, a private hot tub area, architectural planting, integrated lighting and an outdoor sound system.
At this stage, the project is still very much in construction - but the groundwork and structural elements are already beginning to establish the framework for the finished space.
1. Establishing the Existing Conditions
The first stage involved assessing the existing garden and working with what was already there.
The garden presented several challenges typical of an established Islington property:
Existing stepped brickwork and retaining structures
Changes in level across the garden
Existing boundary fencing
Restricted working space
Mature vegetation and established ivy
Existing paving requiring careful integration
The need for increased privacy and security
Rather than simply covering these elements, the approach has been to incorporate the existing architecture into the new design.
The aged London brickwork provides an important character element, while the new timber and dark-painted detailing introduces a more contemporary layer.
2. Security & Boundary Works
One of the first major elements undertaken has been the construction and upgrading of the security boundary fence.
The new timber structure has been carefully installed above and alongside the existing masonry, creating a considerably more secure and private enclosure.
The horizontal timber boarding gives the boundary a strong architectural presence, while the darker horizontal trim provides a deliberate contemporary contrast.
This isn't simply a functional security fence - it forms part of the visual architecture of the garden, creating a backdrop against which the future planting, lighting and outdoor living elements can sit.
3. Working Around Existing Brickwork
A particularly interesting part of the project has been retaining and working around the existing brick structures.
The garden contains a series of existing brick retaining walls and stepped sections, which create both challenges and opportunities.
Rather than removing everything and starting again, Oakfield has been working with the existing masonry to:
retain → reinforce → build around → integrate.
The result will be a garden where the original London brickwork remains visible and becomes part of the finished aesthetic.
This is particularly important in a period urban environment, where completely new landscaping can sometimes feel disconnected from the architecture of the property.
4. Structural Timberwork & Detailing
The photographs show the substantial amount of timber being prepared and brought onto site.
The timber is being used to construct the new boundary and associated architectural elements, with individual boards being measured, cut and installed to follow the geometry of the existing garden.
At this stage, the importance of accurate setting-out becomes obvious.
Every line needs to work with:
Existing wall levels
Boundary lines
Changes in elevation
Finished paving levels
Drainage requirements
Future planting
Lighting positions
The proposed hot tub and entertaining areas
The finished garden may look effortless, but achieving that appearance requires considerable preparation beneath the surface.
5. Preparing for the New Paving
With the structural work progressing, attention is now moving towards the hard landscaping.
The scheme combines two contrasting paving styles.
Artisanal Polished Sandstone
The principal paving will introduce a warmer, tactile natural-stone surface. The polished artisanal sandstone is intended to bring a more refined character to the garden, complementing the existing London brick and timber.
Slimsett Herringbone Paving
Alongside the sandstone, slim-format Slimsett pavers laid in a herringbone configuration will introduce a more graphic, contemporary element.
The herringbone pattern is particularly suited to this garden because it creates movement through what is otherwise a relatively compact space.
The contrast between natural stone and precise herringbone paving will help define separate zones without relying heavily on walls or screens.
6. Setting Out the Finished Garden
At this stage, materials are being prepared and the ground is being progressively organised around the final design.
This is where the project begins to transition from a construction site into a garden.
The final layout will create dedicated areas for:
Entertaining → relaxation → hot tub → planting → circulation.
The paving patterns will be used to help define these zones, with the hard landscaping providing the permanent framework for the softer elements that follow
7. Hot Tub & Outdoor Living
One of the major lifestyle features of the finished garden will be a dedicated hot tub area.
The hot tub isn't being treated as an object simply placed into the garden. Its position needs to be considered alongside:
Structural support
Finished paving levels
Access
Privacy
Drainage
Electrical requirements
Lighting
Planting
Seating and entertaining
The surrounding landscaping will therefore be designed to make the hot tub feel like an integrated part of the garden rather than an afterthought.
8. Lighting & Atmosphere
The lighting scheme will become particularly important once the hard landscaping is complete.
The intention is to create a garden that works beyond daylight hours, with lighting carefully integrated into the architecture and planting.
Rather than flooding the space with excessive illumination, the approach will be to use controlled lighting to highlight:
Brickwork
Timber detailing
Planting
Paving
Garden boundaries
Entertaining areas
The hot tub zone
This should create a considerably different atmosphere at night from the daytime garden.
9. Planting & Soft Landscaping
The hard landscaping establishes the framework; the planting will ultimately soften it.The existing ivy and mature vegetation already provide a strong sense of enclosure, but the completed planting scheme will introduce additional structure, texture and seasonal interest.
Planting will be particularly important around the boundary, helping to soften the security fencing and integrate the new timberwork into the wider garden.
The objective is for the finished garden to feel private, mature and established, rather than newly constructed.
10. Outdoor Sound System
A further layer to the project is the inclusion of an integrated outdoor sound system.
As with the lighting, the objective is for technology to form part of the garden experience without dominating the visual design.
The garden is ultimately being conceived as an outdoor room — somewhere to entertain, relax, use the hot tub and spend time with friends and family.
The sound system therefore becomes part of the overall lifestyle design rather than a separate installation.
Where We Are Now
The photographs capture an important point in the project.
What might initially look like a garden full of timber, tools and unfinished surfaces is actually the structural foundation of the final design coming together.
The security boundary has been substantially progressed, timberwork is being prepared and installed, the existing masonry has been incorporated into the scheme, and the paving materials and construction areas are being organised.
The project is now moving towards the next major transformation:
Structural works → Ground preparation → Paving → Hot tub installation → Lighting → Planting → Sound system → Final detailing.
The Oakfield Approach
For Oakfield Landscaping London, high-end landscaping isn't simply about the final photograph.
It is about everything that happens before the final photograph.
In a compact London garden, every millimetre matters. Levels, drainage, structural integrity, access, material transitions, security, lighting and planting all have to work together.
This Islington project demonstrates that philosophy perfectly.
We're not simply building a garden. We're creating a private outdoor environment - engineered from the ground up and designed to be lived in.
Oakfield Landscaping London
High-End Landscaping • Groundworks • Paving • Carpentry • Garden Construction • Outdoor Living
Islington, London — Project currently under construction.
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