Scandinavian Garden Retreat: Semi-Open Woodland Cabin in Sussex

Location: Sussex

Scope: Design and build of an outdoor living structure with surrounding ecological planting

Key Materials: Local Larch, Oak dowels, Mediterranean green tiles, wildflower planting

A New Vision for Outdoor Living

When our clients, a young, social couple, approached us, their garden space was dominated by a flat grey patio that lacked energy, warmth, and connection to the surrounding woodland. They wanted to create a year-round outdoor living space that felt tranquil, inviting, and deeply connected to nature.

The brief was clear: design a garden structure that offers shelter and style, brings in more light, and frames the woodland view just beyond the boundary.

Designing a Semi-Open Garden Pavilion

We designed a semi-open timber pavilion that blurs the line between indoors and out. The clean, vertical lines and open sides echo Scandinavian garden architecture—simple, functional, and beautifully quiet.

This is not a shed or a summerhouse. It's a multi-season garden room where you can sip a coffee on a frosty morning, host summer dinners, or gather around a wood stove on autumn evenings.

Key Design Features:

• Semi-enclosed walls for wind protection without blocking views

• Large overhang for rain shelter and seasonal flexibility

• Vertical cladding and columns that lead the eye upward toward the trees

• Natural materials and a neutral palette to create calm

Design Tip: If you’re planning an outdoor garden room, keep the structure open where you want connection—enclose only where you need comfort.

Natural Materials & Craftsmanship

This project is all about natural beauty and fine detailing.

We used locally sourced Larch timber for the frame, vertical cladding, and decking. Every screw on the decking was concealed with hand-fitted Oak dowels—a subtle detail that creates a completely seamless, high-quality finish.

Inside, the bar area and log burner zone are finished with Mediterranean green tiles, adding a soft splash of colour and contrast against the timber tones.

Build Insight: Details like dowel-concealed fixings and natural tiling don’t just look better—they stand the test of time in outdoor environments.

Planting That Feels Wild But Works Hard

To root the structure in its surroundings and promote biodiversity, we layered in a soft but intentional planting scheme.

• Wildflowers and meadow-style planting around the banks

• A deck shaped like a leaf, inspired by nearby woodland forms

• Edible beds for herbs and vegetables

• Pollinator-friendly potted plants along paths and patios

Together, these elements bring movement, scent, and colour to the garden throughout the year, while supporting wildlife and softening the built elements.

Garden Idea: Even in small spaces, herb beds and wildflowers add life and purpose. Let your structure be surrounded, not isolated.

The Result

This is more than a garden structure, it’s a Scandinavian-inspired retreat, a place where architecture and ecology meet. Every element, from the Larch timber to the soft banks of wildflowers, has been chosen to reflect nature and invite people into it.

The finished garden feels peaceful and purposeful, a space for entertaining, relaxing, and enjoying the rhythms of outdoor living all year round.

Thinking About a Garden Pavilion or Outdoor Living Space?

Whether you're starting with a blank slate or redesigning an existing patio, we can help create a space that’s rooted in craftsmanship and designed to last.

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