Award-winning garden designer Roberto Silva commissioned the Garden Builders to construct his small and airy Islington garden for an apartment to be rented out. The new scheme needed to be low-maintenance, with all-season planting and sturdy yet attractive hard landscaping finishes.

New cedar-slatted screening was fixed onto the existing perimeter fence while a raised cedar deck platform was added close to the sliding doors for outdoor breakfasts. The curving surface was made from permeable, resin-bound paving for minimal upkeep and a contemporary, tactile feel. To fit the tight curves into the garden's small space, we fixed the edge of the surface with flexible steel edge which was bolted onto a concrete foundation.

Mixed planting provided a luxurious and softening complement to the hardscaping details. Low-level lighting heightened the garden's crisp look in the evenings.