The Mirror Pool Garden

The owners wanted a garden that would provide a calm retreat from everyday life and reflect their interest in art, architecture and beautifully crafted objects.

The space needed to feel contemporary while retaining the softness and intimacy of a cottage garden. It was designed as somewhere to pause, sit and observe, with water becoming the central focus of the experience.

The garden had an enclosed character, offering privacy and an opportunity to create a deeply atmospheric space.

Rather than trying to make the garden feel larger through openness alone, the design embraces this sense of enclosure. Strong boundaries provide a backdrop for layered planting, while carefully controlled views draw attention towards the centre of the garden.

The site offered an opportunity to create contrast between precise architectural forms and softer, constantly changing natural elements.

A large mirror pool sits at the heart of the garden, creating a strong focal point and a sense of stillness.

Its dark surface reflects the sky, surrounding planting and shifting light, allowing the garden to change throughout the day. The pool is framed by simple geometric lines and areas for sitting, placing the owners within the planting rather than at its edge.

The restrained layout gives the garden clarity, while subtle changes in texture, height and movement create a rich and immersive atmosphere.

Steel and natural stone were selected for their strength, texture and ability to age gracefully. Their crisp forms provide a deliberate counterpoint to the looseness of the planting.

Hydrangeas create generous volume and structure, while ornamental grasses bring movement and filter light around the pool. A restrained palette of repeated plants gives the garden rhythm and cohesion without making it feel rigid.

The contrast between reflective water, tactile materials and softly drifting planting gives the garden its distinctive character: composed and contemporary, but still alive with seasonal change.

Location: Witney
Year: 2019
Service: Full Garden Design
Photography: Langlands Studio