Garden Design
Garden Design in Danbury, Essex
Location: Danbury, Essex
A raised terrace designed to resolve significant level changes and create a premium outdoor entertaining space — combining engineered structure, porcelain paving and Mediterranean-inspired planting to connect home and landscape.
Explore more: all garden projects· about our studio· start your project
Overview
This Danbury garden presented a clear challenge: substantial level changes immediately outside the property. The brief was for a generous, stable terrace that feels like a natural extension of the home — refined enough for entertaining, robust enough for everyday use.
- Block-and-beam engineered raised terrace.
- High-quality porcelain paving and stainless steel drainage.
- Curved slate-clad walls with integrated lighting.
- Olive trees and lavender for a Mediterranean feel.
Read the design story
The solution needed to be structurally robust and visually elegant, maximising views across neighbouring fields while sitting comfortably within the surrounding countryside.
Engineered terrace & materials
To create a strong and stable platform, the patio was engineered using a block-and-beam structure. This provides the foundation for a premium outdoor space finished in high-quality porcelain paving, with discreet stainless steel drainage grills sitting neatly within the design.
Curved slate-clad retaining walls soften the terrace geometry, adding texture, depth and a sense of enclosure. Integrated lighting picks out key architectural lines and extends the use of the space into the evening.
Planting & Mediterranean character
Urbis planters were introduced as sculptural focal points, working with two built-in planters that each cradle a mature olive tree. The olives are underplanted with white and purple lavender, bringing fragrance, movement and a subtle Mediterranean character to the space.
A restrained palette allows the materials and views to take centre stage, while still providing softness and seasonal interest along the terrace edge.
Connection to the wider landscape
The raised terrace enhances the natural topography while maximising usability. Flowing seamlessly from the interior, it creates a refined platform that looks out over open fields and visually anchors the property to its wider landscape.
The result is a sophisticated patio terrace that resolves the level change and elevates the character of the garden — an elegant setting for outdoor dining, entertaining and relaxed everyday living.
Evening atmosphere & views
As evening falls, integrated lighting highlights the slate walls, steps and key planting, creating a warm, inviting ambience and emphasising the clean architectural lines of the terrace. The elevated position allows uninterrupted views over the surrounding fields, reinforcing the connection between the garden and the wider countryside.
This Danbury garden design demonstrates how careful engineering, thoughtful detailing and considered planting can transform a challenging level change into a refined, welcoming outdoor room.
Gallery
Spaces within the Danbury garden
A selection of views showing the raised terrace, slate-clad walls, statement planters and far-reaching countryside outlook.
Like this elevated terrace in Danbury?
If your garden has challenging levels or you’re dreaming of a refined outdoor entertaining space, we’d be delighted to explore how we can help.
Start your project