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Garden Landscape Design in Canonbury North London with Japanese Inspired Garden Deck and Oak Pergola Garden Landscape Design in Canonbury North London with Japanese Inspired Garden Deck and Oak Pergola
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Japanese Inspired Garden Featuring Shou Sugi Ban Canonbury N1

Japanese Inspired Shou Sugi Ban within Garden Design

The brief

The clients wanted to renovate the garden with new features including a deck and pergola at their beautiful old Victorian terrace in the heart of Canonbury. They were very keen for the new elements not to stand out too starkly from the rest of the garden and surroundings, so came to us to ask if we could somehow create a somewhat timeworn aesthetic. Our lead designer decided to try the Japanese “Shou Sugi Ban” technique to weather the hardwood deck.

Shou Sugi Ban Japanese Inspired Garden in Canonbury North London

Experimental Carbonisation in Decking Design

Shou Sugi Ban is a traditional Japanese technique of burning the surface of wood. The carbonisation process creates a protective barrier that is fire retardant, water resistant, and pest deterrent. However, it is really the stylistic draw of Shou Sugi Ban that made this decking design sing to our Canonbury clients.

Close up of Shou Sugi Ban Decking Installation in Canonbury North London Garden

Our garden design team spent a few weeks applying different degrees of burn to sample decking pieces. Different sealants, varnishes and paints were also applied to see how the interaction of other materials interplayed with the grain of the burnt wood.


The clients were invited to view the different samples and techniques at our workshop. A deeply carbonised version of the hardwood with light application of pigment was chosen for the final decking design.

Sample Decking with Pigments Applied in North London Garden Workshop

Garden Decking Installation and Complementary Pergola Design

The garden building process started with removal of astroturf, and moving excess earth from the sloped portion at the back of the garden to level out the front section. This meant the deck could sit level, and would only require a small step up to reach it.


Then the deck was installed and Shou Sugi Ban and pigment applied to the upper surface.

Garden Decking Installation in Progress with Application of Shou Sugi Ban in Canonbury Garden North London
We cannot recommend Duncan and his team highly enough. From the very beginning Duncan’s communication was excellent. He listened, offered good advice and really took the time to experiment with different Japanese inspired techniques in his North London garden workshop. The Shi Shugi Ban result is even better than we could have hoped for. He and his team were a pleasure to have around. They always arrived on time, were friendly, honest and respectful of our home. Our garden has become a new room in our house and we are more than delighted with the workmanship and the whole service Duncan and his team provided. Great job!
— Paula, Canonbury N1

We thought we may paint the pergola but the clients decided to leave the tanalised timbers of the pergola green tinged as they come for the time being. They contrast well with the deck as they are and the natural silvering process will also work against the darkness of the Shou Sugi Ban as both new features age together.

Pergola Installation Contrasting with Darkened Shou Sugi Ban Deck in Canonbury North London Garden
Completed Deck and Pergola Garden Build in Canonbury Garden North London
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I can’t recommend Duncan and his team highly enough. Creative, professional, and fun to work with. Great design and construction too! Claudia, Crouch End N8
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