A modern outdoor patio at night with wet stone flooring, orange decorative panels, potted plants, a seating area with a fire pit, trees, and ambient lighting.

Urban Garden

York, North Yorkshire

Private Client

Located in the heart of historic York, the Urban Garden transforms a compact city-centre outdoor space into a luxurious, usable extension of the home. Our client asked Studio H to design a lighting scheme that would allow the space to be enjoyed both day and night, complementing the contemporary interiors of the York Townhouse.

Using in-ground and concealed LED fittings, the lighting creates a layered composition of shadow, light and contrast, turning the garden into an exterior room complete with cedar hot tub, comfortable seating and outdoor media wall. Four programmable lighting scenes, controllable via Rako and an intuitive smartphone app, allow the homeowner to shift the mood and atmosphere with ease. The system is set to adjust automatically throughout the year, ensuring the garden remains inviting after dusk.

By combining subtle illumination with expert placement of fixtures, the garden feels expansive, sculptural and intimately connected to the home. This project demonstrates how thoughtful exterior lighting can redefine urban outdoor spaces, and was featured in Living North magazine for its innovative design.

  • An image of the Cultural Center.

  • A modern outdoor patio area at night with a black textured brick wall, a window with a tree inside lit from behind, candles on a wicker table, and decorative laser-cut orange panels on the ceiling and walls.

  • An image of the Cultural Center.

  • A modern outdoor patio at night with wet reflective tiles, illuminated by low LED lighting along the edges, decorated with potted plants, lounge seating, a lattice roof, and ambient blue and orange accent lighting.

  • An outdoor patio at night with lit candles on a bench, potted plants, decorative orange metal screens, and a brick wall with windows. The ground is wet and reflects lights.