Urban garden · Terraced narrow plot

Greenwich Home

A steep, narrow terraced garden in Greenwich transformed into a sequence of terraces for dining, play, productive growing and quiet retreat.

Project overview

Elegant transformation of a steep, narrow urban garden

This nineteenth century terraced cottage came with a long, narrow garden rising steeply to the rear. Overlooking from neighbours and limited access added further challenges.

With all site access through the house, excavation and construction were carried out by hand. This drove a design strategy that reused as much material as possible while turning constraints into character.

Tags

Terraced garden Urban narrow plot Hand built construction Kitchen garden Zoned outdoor spaces

Project snapshot

Client: Private homeowner
Location: Greenwich, London
Scope: Full garden redesign including terraces, planting and kitchen garden.
Key elements: Dining terrace, integrated seating, lawn terrace, productive kitchen garden, fernery and upper pergola.

The challenge

Steep levels, overlooking and all works hand dug through the house

The steep rear elevation and narrow width risked feeling overbearing and difficult to use, while neighbours overlooked from several points.

With no side or rear access, all materials had to travel through the house and excavation was carried out by hand, which made material efficiency and careful planning essential.

Outcomes

A richly layered garden from kitchen door to upper pergola

The reworked garden turns a steep, narrow plot into a series of coherent garden rooms, each with its own character and function.

Better use of space

Every terrace now has a clear role, from dining and play to growing and quiet retreat.

Improved privacy

Planting and level changes help reduce overlooking, making the garden feel more comfortable and enclosed.

Characterful, hand crafted feel

The all hand built nature of the works is reflected in the detailing, giving the garden a unique sense of craftsmanship.

Want to unlock the potential of a steep or narrow garden?

Constrained plots can become some of the most characterful spaces. We design terraced gardens that make the most of every level.