CAROLINE  DE LANE LEA  

Commissioned as part of the redevelopment of a London townhouse into a boutique hotel, the courtyard acts as a mix-use space for guests and events. Extending off the breakfast room, the courtyard is divided into a series of more intimate spaces for visitors to sit and enjoy a coffee or a drink either individually or as a group. The use of both built-in and freestanding furniture provides flexibility, while large planters help break up the space. Multi-stemmed birch gives height and structure to the planting and in winter the white stems provide seasonal interest. Evergreen box balls, hedging and ferns green up the space to create a calm tranquil urban oasis. The metal leaf screen provides a focal point both day and night.