Commercial Courtyard Café Garden Design
BRIEF
We were commissioned to redesign a courtyard that needed to perform two commercial functions: providing an attractive café environment for customers while merchandising a premium collection of Cretan terracotta pots.
The design therefore needed to work commercially as well as aesthetically.
The key objectives were to maximise product sales and the return generated from the site; give the space a distinctive identity reflecting the owner rather than feeling like a generic retail courtyard; create something genuinely beautiful; and turn the courtyard into a destination experience that would leave a lasting impression on visitors.
DESIGN SOLUTION
We created a contemporary courtyard designed to remain visually engaging throughout the year while allowing the stock on display to rotate.
The design needed to respect the surroundings and the traditional craftsmanship represented by the Cretan terracotta, but present the products within a more contemporary landscape setting.
The circulation encourages visitors to dwell and explore rather than simply move directly through the retail display.
Product presentation was carefully balanced against the need for the courtyard to retain the qualities of a genuine garden.
A central water canal introduces reflection and movement through the centre of the space.
Simple steel ‘bridges’ cross the canal and reinforce the contemporary character of the design.
Sunken planting allows generous greenery to be incorporated without taking valuable floor area away from product display.
Vertical green walls provide additional planting and soften the courtyard boundaries, increasing the sense of immersion while again preserving usable retail space.
The result demonstrates how landscape design can respond directly to commercial objectives while still creating an attractive and memorable place in its own right.
If you would like to discuss how a well designed outdoor space could help your business contact us for a free consultation
