A Victorian Townhouse With an Impressive Garden and Natural Pool Out Back

When homes come with their own slice of nature, fluid indoor-outdoor living is often the goal—but that wasn’t the case for one traditional Victorian in East London. “We weren’t particularly looking for a seamless transition between interior and exterior,” explains Nathaniel Mosley of Mosley Thorold Architects. He and his partner Henry Thorold adorned the historic townhouse with a contemporary rear extension manages to both connect to and create distinction from an enchanting backyard.

“On a rainy winter’s day, the interior feels cosy and embracing; on a hot summer’s day, it feels shaded and breezy,” Nathaniel explains. “The threshold between interior and exterior is an opportunity to negotiate between these constantly changing conditions and requirements. We used very large format French doors to give a strong feeling of openness, but set them into a framework of corten fins and projecting cappings that retain a sense of enclosure.”

The delineation highlights the magic of the large, L-shaped green space in its own right. With a stone dining patio, wild-yet-intentional flora by Sophie Gordon Garden Design, a natural swimming pond by Gartenart, and a wood-clad sauna, it’s “an oasis of calm in a busy city, with private pockets and more open expansive areas,” just as the client requested. Let’s take a tour. (And be sure to scroll down for the full plant list.)

Photography by Ollie Tomlinson.

For the rear extension, Mosley Thorold combined concrete impressed with Douglas fir casting boards and finely patinated corten steel. &#8\2\20;They both have a lovely tactile quality and work extremely well together,&#8\2\2\1; says Nathaniel. &#8\2\20;They are also both extremely robust and age well.&#8\2\2\1; — Above: For the rear extension, Mosley Thorold combined concrete impressed with Douglas fir casting boards and finely patinated corten steel. “They both have a lovely tactile quality and work extremely well together,” says Nathaniel. “They are also both extremely robust and age well.”

The wood grain texture of the concrete is apparent up close. Plus, seeded gravel joints between the Deerplay riven Yorkstone paving &#8\2\20;encourage low growing plants in the cracks, giving a softer feeling to the patio area,&#8\2\2\1; says Nathaniel. — Above: The wood grain texture of the concrete is apparent up close. Plus, seeded gravel joints between the Deerplay riven Yorkstone paving “encourage low growing plants in the cracks, giving a softer feeling to the patio area,” says Nathaniel.

When Sophie first came on site, &#8\2\20;the hanging branches of the huge lime tree on the south-facing side were almost touching the ground, so the first thing we did was lift the crown right up to let more light in,&#8\2\2\1; she shares. &#8\2\20;One of my key goals was to retain an atmosphere of enclosure, whilst also maximising feelings of space and occasion—as the house has been designed.&#8\2\2\1; — Above: When Sophie first came on site, “the hanging branches of the huge lime tree on the south-facing side were almost touching the ground, so the first thing we did was lift the crown right up to let more light in,” she shares. “One of my key goals was to retain an atmosphere of enclosure, whilst also maximising feelings of space and occasion—as the house has been designed.”

Sophie kept a &#8\2\20;superb&#8\2\2\1; Mahonia against the rear wall, which she framed with ferns, Japanese anemones, and foxgloves (digitalis). She crafted an immersive journey from the house to the pool using a &#8\2\20;tunnel effect with tree ferns (Dicksonia antarcica), one whose fronds arch over the stepping stones and a second that spills towards the reclaimed iron gate into the pond garden,&#8\2\2\1; she says.&#8\2\2\1;It was a loose brief with an overarching theme of tranquility and envelopment, but the client was on board with me introducing some drama, too.&#8\2\2\1; — Above: Sophie kept a “superb” Mahonia against the rear wall, which she framed with ferns, Japanese anemones, and foxgloves (digitalis). She crafted an immersive journey from the house to the pool using a “tunnel effect with tree ferns (Dicksonia antarcica), one whose fronds arch over the stepping stones and a second that spills towards the reclaimed iron gate into the pond garden,” she says.”It was a loose brief with an overarching theme of tranquility and envelopment, but the client was on board with me introducing some drama, too.”

The pool is free of all chlorine and chemical disinfectants. Instead, &#8\2\20;the regeneration and filtration area is filled with a specially selected gravel that adsorbs phosphate from the water, keeping nutrient levels extremely low and naturally preventing algae growth,&#8\2\2\1; explains Gartenart&#8\2\17;s head of design Melinda La Mantia. &#8\2\20;This biological filtration process is fundamental to maintaining crystal-clear water while creating a healthy aquatic ecosystem.&#8\2\2\1; — Above: The pool is free of all chlorine and chemical disinfectants. Instead, “the regeneration and filtration area is filled with a specially selected gravel that adsorbs phosphate from the water, keeping nutrient levels extremely low and naturally preventing algae growth,” explains Gartenart’s head of design Melinda La Mantia. “This biological filtration process is fundamental to maintaining crystal-clear water while creating a healthy aquatic ecosystem.”

&#8\2\20;On , the nodding, downward-facing bell flowers of Clematis cirrhosa &#8\2\16;Freckles&#8\2\17; can be appreciated during colder swims, accompanied by the white bells of evergreen Clematis urophylla &#8\2\16;Winter Beauty&#8\2\17;. In summer, the lemon yellow lanterns of Clematis &#8\2\16;Lambton Park&#8\2\17; are followed by a mass of its silky bearded seed heads as autumn arrives.&#8\2\2\1; — Above: “On [one side of the pool], the nodding, downward-facing bell flowers of Clematis cirrhosa ‘Freckles’ can be appreciated during colder swims, accompanied by the white bells of evergreen Clematis urophylla ‘Winter Beauty’. In summer, the lemon yellow lanterns of Clematis ‘Lambton Park’ are followed by a mass of its silky bearded seed heads as autumn arrives.”

On the exterior of the sauna and changing rooms, quarry riven limestone and charred timber come together for &#8\2\20;a very tactile quality similar to the main extension,&#8\2\2\1; Nathaniel says. &#8\2\20;The limestone in particular has a very raised grain which gives an enjoyable, monumental quality to what is really a tiny building.&#8\2\2\1; Beside it, Sophie placed tall golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) in bespoke corten planters, forming a dense green screen to obscure the outdoor shower nestled inside it. — Above: On the exterior of the sauna and changing rooms, quarry riven limestone and charred timber come together for “a very tactile quality similar to the main extension,” Nathaniel says. “The limestone in particular has a very raised grain which gives an enjoyable, monumental quality to what is really a tiny building.” Beside it, Sophie placed tall golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) in bespoke corten planters, forming a dense green screen to obscure the outdoor shower nestled inside it.

Even the gutters are artful. Last summer, Sophie craned a large standard Cercidiphyllum japonicum over the sauna and changing rooms. &#8\2\20;The caramel or &#8\2\16;burnt toffee&#8\2\17; aroma released as it sheds its leaves is to be enjoyed during an autumn swim,&#8\2\2\1; she shares. — Above: Even the gutters are artful. Last summer, Sophie craned a large standard Cercidiphyllum japonicum over the sauna and changing rooms. “The caramel or ‘burnt toffee’ aroma released as it sheds its leaves is to be enjoyed during an autumn swim,” she shares.

Thermo Aspen wood clads the sauna interior, which offers a prime view of Sophie&#8\2\17;s scent- and privacy-focused pond garden. &#8\2\20;The west-facing fence is planted with evergreen star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), underplanted with pillows of Erigeron karvinskianus and Geranium Rozanne,&#8\2\2\1; she notes. — Above: Thermo Aspen wood clads the sauna interior, which offers a prime view of Sophie’s scent- and privacy-focused pond garden. “The west-facing fence is planted with evergreen star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), underplanted with pillows of Erigeron karvinskianus and Geranium Rozanne,” she notes.

Gartenart constructed the pool with reinforced concrete, the decking with Douglas fir. &#8\2\20;It is highly durable, performs exceptionally well in contact with water, and does not require chemical treatment, making it a sustainable and long-lasting material choice,&#8\2\2\1; Melina says of the latter. &#8\2\20;The deck was designed to integrate seamlessly with the pool and planting, creating a sequence of spaces that encourage both relaxation and a close connection with the water.&#8\2\2\1; — Above: Gartenart constructed the pool with reinforced concrete, the decking with Douglas fir. “It is highly durable, performs exceptionally well in contact with water, and does not require chemical treatment, making it a sustainable and long-lasting material choice,” Melina says of the latter. “The deck was designed to integrate seamlessly with the pool and planting, creating a sequence of spaces that encourage both relaxation and a close connection with the water.”

Above: Of course, one of the biggest challenges in building the pool was site access—all the materials had to be transported through the house—but the verdant reprieve from the city bustle was well worth the effort.

Plant List:

Trees

Dicksonia Antartica
Acer davidii ‘Viper’
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Parrotia persica ‘Vanessa’
Trachycarpus fortueni (with bark stripped, in a bespoke Torc ‘Caradoc’ Pot on patio)

Shrubs

Fatsia Japonica
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Strong Annabelle’
Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii
Taxus baccata
Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’

Climbers

Clematis tangutica ‘Lambton Park’
Clematis urophylla ‘Winter Beauty’
Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens ‘Freckles
Rosa The Generous Gardener
Rosa Gertrude Jekyll
Rosa The Lady of the Lake
Trachelospermum jasminoides
Wisteria sinensis ‘Amethyst’

Perennials

Anemone x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’
Astrantia ‘Hapsden Blood’
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’
Erigeron karvinskianus
Euphorbia ‘Miners Merlot’
Geum ‘Totally tangerine’
Helleborus orientalis
Hylotelephium ‘Herbesfreude’
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling butterflies’
Geranium ‘Patricia’
Geranium ‘Rozanne’
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Liriope muscari
Polystichum setiferum
Polystichum setiferum ‘Herrenhausen’
Thalictrum delavayi
Verbena bonariensis

Grasses

Deschampsia cepitosa ‘Goldtau’
Hakonechloa macra
Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’
Phyllostachys aurea
Sesleria autumnalis

Biennials

Digitalis purpurea ‘Camelot Rose’
Digitalis purpurea ‘Camelot Cream’

Seasonal bulbs

Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’
Leucojum aestivum
Narcissus ‘Actaea’
Narcissus ‘Jack Snipe’
Narcissus ‘Pink Charm’ (underplanted in Torc pot containing the Trachycarpus. Planted so that the deep coral pink cups compliment the corten exterior element of the house)
Narcissus ‘Thalia’

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