Form and function

With the resurgence of interest in mid-20th-century modern design and an embracing of industrial chic, concrete is being used in increasingly interesting and engaging ways in the garden. Cantilevered concrete benches and dining tables that seem to hover in place, platform-style concrete boardwalks, built-in planter boxes, bold feature walls … concrete is no longer just used for paving or walling, or hidden behind cladding or a layer of paint.

Concrete is ubiquitous. It’s a common building material that is prized for its strength and although it weathers gracefully, it is often kept behind the scenes. However, that is no longer the case, both inside the home and outside in the garden. Concrete is being used in a plethora of creative ways, some incredibly refined, others bold and dramatic. That is one of the things that attracts the inventive landscape designer to concrete — its amazing versatility which allows it to transform functional elements into