5 Houzz Awards
5 Houzz Badges
Contact Info:
John Ward
London, Greater London W3 0LX
United Kingdom
London, Greater London W3 0LX
United Kingdom
Typical Job Costs:
£20,000 - £100,000
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Aoba Landscapes, a multi award-winning garden design & build company
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Aoba Landscapes is an award-winning garden design and build company offering a full range of services from initial design concepts through to fully developed schemes with detailed planting and lighting plans. Once the design is complete our skilled construction team can then turn the design into reality, all finished to the highest of standards.
We believe that successful garden design is both beautiful and functional, works for our clients' needs and fits effortlessly into its surroundings. By working closely with our clients, we strive to create exciting and interesting gardens, whether a small urban courtyard or a large country estate.
While often using strong geometry and contemporary materials our philosophy is not to impose a design too much on an existing space. A clever use of planting allows for an interesting contrast against hard edges and creates a garden that will evolve over time and be enjoyed for years to come.
Services Provided
3D Rendering, Decking Design, Garden Design, Garden Plans, Gazebo Design & Construction, Patio Design, Planting Design, Outdoor Lighting Design, Outdoor lighting plans, Planting Schemes, Construction Drawings
Areas Served
London, Ealing, Fulham, Balham, Richmond, Twickenham, Notting Hill, Shepherds Bush, Chiswick, Kensington, Hammersmith, Brentford, Harrow, Hampton, Walton-on-Thames, Shepperton, Isleworth, Weybridge, Clapham, Streatham, Wimbledon, Ruislip, Stanmore, Chobham, Chertsey
Awards
Gold Medal RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2016 Best Conceptual Garden - RHS Hampton Court Flower Show 2016 Finalist - SGD Student Awards 2015 Pre registered member of The Society of Garden Designers11
21 Projects for Aoba Landscapes

Holloway, London, Greater London
North London Contemporary Courtyard Garden
6 photos

Chiswick, London, Greater London
Chiswick Garden with Outdoor Kitchen
4 photos

Acton, London, Greater London
Acton Courtyard Garden
5 photos

Grove Park, London, Greater London
Large Family Garden in Chiswick
15 photos

East Sheen, London, Greater London
Sheen Contemporary Garden
8 photos

Balham, London, Greater London
Balham Garden with Pergola
7 photos

Shepherd's Bush, London, Greater London
Shepherds Bush Front Garden
13 photos

Kilburn, London, Greater London
Kilburn Contemporary Garden
11 photos

Chiswick, London, Greater London
Chiswick Family Garden & Courtyard
11 photos

Queen's Park, London, Greater London
Minimalist Queens Park Garden
5 photos

West Byfleet, Surrey
Bespoke Pergola with Cedar Panels
9 photos

Balham, London, Greater London
Contemporary Balham Garden
9 photos
Featured Review

Mr S
Relationship
Client
The build process was exceptional: the quality of workmanship is high, and the end product is an exact match of the design drawings. Above all, it was a pleasure having Aoba's skilled workmen in our gardenRead Full Review
39 Reviews for Aoba Landscapes
5.0|39 reviews
Work Quality5.0
Communication5.0
Value5.0

Belinda Cooper Garden Design
Relationship
Colleague
I would thoroughly recommend Aoba Landscapes, who built a garden for my clients last year during lockdown. They did a fantastic job. John is a pleasure to work with, the project went very smoothly and was delivered to the highest standards. As the ultimate compliment, my clients' neighbours actually made a point of coming over to say how tidy, friendly and considerate the team had been on site. Five stars.
22 February, 2021

Comment from Aoba Landscapes:
Thanks for the kind words Belinda. We loved building your fantastic design and really glad that you and the clients were happy with the end result. I look forward to the possibility of working with you again :)

Mr S
Relationship
Client
We have only great things to say about John and his team, and would highly recommend both their design and construction work. Completing a relatively complex project during the Covid pandemic would have been a stretch for many Landscaping companies - not for Aoba. The design process was swift and efficient, without compromising client feedback and opinions. John's knowledge of materials and available products is extensive, and allowed for an agreed design to be created effortlessly from the client's perspective. The build process was exceptional: the quality of workmanship is high, and the end product is an exact match of the design drawings. Above all, it was a pleasure having Aoba's skilled workmen in our garden: always courteous, and with a great eye for detail and pride in their work. Many thanks Aoba - we just need Lockdown to end to invite friends over to try everything out!
8 February, 2021

HU-862857007
Relationship
Client
We were delighted that John and his team at Aoba Landscapes were able to fit us into their busy schedule. From start to finish they were extremely professional and transformed our garden in just a few weeks, delivering an agreed design to create a wonderful new outdoor space. Their attention to detail was superb and they responded promptly to all our questions. It's fair to say they went above and beyond our expectations! We had a lot of new paving installed and the precision was incredible. Well done Marek! We can't recommend them enough!
28 November, 2020

Nic Lee
Relationship
Client
John, Ben and their team did a fantastic job building my design at Shakespeare Road. A project very dear to my heart, my in-laws garden was realised to the highest standards thanks to the great work of the team. Their approach was highly professional throughout and I enjoyed working with them in a truly collaborative way. From the beginning they worked with us to achieve the design within the budget. They built all hard landscape elements, boundaries, structures, water features, prepared planting beds and planted trees and hedges. This allowed myself and my in-laws to plant out the remaining shrubs, herbaceous and grass planting keeping the project in budget and helping my in-laws engage with the garden and start to call it their own. I would highly recommend them for their knowledge, experience, construction skills, attention to detail and most importantly as really nice people to work with!
10 September, 2020
Comment from Aoba Landscapes:
Thanks for the kind words Nic. I'm really pleased you, John & Jane are so happy with the garden and it's been great to see how the planting has developed over the summer. Myself, Ben and the whole of the team really enjoyed working closely with you all on the project and working with such a fantastic design.

HU-411469229
Relationship
Client
I would highly recommended John & his Azara team. From design through to the build / planting, John was helpful, enthusiastic & knowledgable. The attention to detail and quality of finish were excellent & I am very fussy! We are really, REALLY pleased with the work.
25 June, 2020

Nick Gregory
Relationship
Client
John's team worked professionally and punctually to execute my Japanese garden design in difficult circumstances (the beginnings of social distancing). Their work was high quality and attentive to detail. I would highly recommend them.
23 April, 2020

S Weir
Relationship
Client
I can highly recommend Azara Landscapes. John and his team designed and delivered a garden which was sympathetic to our Arts & Crafts house whilst also being practical for our young family. He and the team were hardworking, responsive and easy to deal with.
16 April, 2020

Jo Midgley
Relationship
Client
We would highly recommend Azara Landscapes. John and his team designed and implemented the garden of our dreams. We now have a beautiful chill out area with garden lights on an app, outdoor kitchen complete with pizza oven, BBQ and fridge.
The onsite team lead by Marek were really professional, hard working and kept us informed during all stages of the process. We really couldn’t recommend him highly enough.
Azara went above and beyond all our expectation and my husband has very high levels of perfection!!

16 April, 2020

Jemima Boost
Relationship
Client
It was so easy and a total pleasure to work with Azara Landscapes. They were efficient and reliable, working very hard and discreetly. We are thrilled with the results of our new garden.
19 March, 2020

Andrew Cohen
Relationship
Client
We would highly recommend Azara Landscapes . They provided an excellent service from beginning to end. Ben and John were always on hand to manage things through any kind of problem and all the team on site were brilliant. They also worked hand in hand with the building team on site through the project making sure the internal and external works were well coordinated. Our garden is transformed and looks utterly beautiful and we can’t wait for the summer.
28 February, 2020

Laila Court
Relationship
Client
We very much enjoyed working with John and his team. He executed the brief professionally and flexibly, we particularly appreciated his pragmatic approach, nothing ever seemed too much trouble. John and his team were hard-working and polite and we are really delighted with the end result..we can't believe it is the same garden! I would have no hesitation recommending Azara.
10 January, 2020Last modified:13 January, 2020

Simon Brooke
Relationship
Client
John listened carefully to our brief and created a design that was perfect for us. It was striking and creative but it was practical and fitted our budget exactly. His team were polite, efficient, very hard working - and generally really nice guys.
I can’t recommend Azara highly enough.
9 January, 2020

Lara Behr
Relationship
Client
Would highly recommend John and his team. They built one of my designs for clients in Archway, North London and were a pleasure to work with, great attention to detail and communication throughout the build. Thank you!
23 December, 2019

Sheila Jack
Relationship
Colleague
John and his team built a project to an exacting standard for my North London clients. At all times, professional, knowledgeable, precise and considerate I would recommend them highly. Nothing was too much trouble, they really went the extra mile to ensure that my design was delivered as specified, to budget and on time. Very happy clients & designer!

18 November, 2019

Andrew Dixon
Relationship
Client
I am very pleased to have chosen Azara landscapes to completely renovate my garden. John is incredibly easy to work with; friendly, polite, passionate and extremely knowledgeable. He listens to your brief and uses his creativity to bring your vision to life.
The team at Azara delivered both on budget and to schedule, and the results were of a very high quality. They also worked effectively around the limitations of our property – no direct access to the rear garden and no allocated parking at the front. John was also flexible when it came to working towards a budget, generating multiple options at different price points.
In summary, we are very pleased with the results and would happily work with them again.


25 September, 2019Last modified:25 September, 2019

GERALDINE BATEL
Relationship
Client
John and his wonderful professional & friendly team (Azara Landscapes) transformed our sad-looking patio into an urban leafy jewel.
It feels like we added an extra room to the house as we equally enjoy spending time outside and also admiring it from inside. Comes evening time, the clever lighting gives us a stunning view on the feature wall created specially for us by Azara Landscapes. We just LOVE it!
27 August, 2019

HU-938048200
Relationship
Client
Brian and I were very pleased to have employed John and Ben to Transform our small Southwest London garden into something special. The brief was to make it maintenance free, somewhere to sit and entertain friends. We had built a most wonderful brick wall that needed to be show cased with plants. Brian also wanted an old gnarled Olive tree.
All of this was achieved by John and his team in a very Professional manner. Nothing was too much trouble and it all seemed to run trouble free.
21 August, 2019

Stefania Taylor
Relationship
Client
I feel very lucky to have found John Ward and Azara landscapes and his team. He created exactly the garden I had envisioned adding unusual and inspired additions and ideas. Throughout the period of John’s work no issue was a problem, his workforce all seemed very laid back, charming too and the work simply got done. Nothing was too much trouble and their attention to detail, impressive. What started as a rather neglected greenscape with matching muddy lawn has been transformed into an elegant, functional, beautifully lit, additional room that is changing my whole appreciation of my home. I really don’t think I can recommend John and Azara too greatly.
28 May, 2019

Agnes Doyle
Relationship
Client
We have engaged John (Azara Landscapes) to help with our garden project in south west London. We wanted to convert our neglected, unused space into tropical garden. John helped us with a landscape design and selection of right plants, from small fearns and grasses to bigger trees and palms. John has created an amazing garden for us that we can’t wait to use when the weather gets warmer. John has been great to work with, came back with required information and costs in a timely manner and really exceeded our expectations. We’d recommend John, he’s been great!
17 April, 2019

Robin C
Relationship
Client
I worked with John, Ben and the Azara team to undertake a complete redesign and rebuild of my garden in Kew. I had big plans and challenged John with the opposite of the common garden brief - low maintenance and simple. I wanted a high maintenance and bountiful garden. John was very patient with my design ideas and we got to a great design, together. Ben and his build team were great. Professional, knowledgeable and on budget! Their camaraderie and laughter on the job tells you everything you need to know about how well they work together. I recommend the Azara team highly!
2 April, 2019

N Pr
Relationship
Client
John and Ben were fantastic to work with. They took our initial idea and designed all the elements around it. They listened to us and added so many of their new ideas as well. Through the project, they kept us informed on the progress and everything went smoothly. They were efficient, very professional and dealt with unforeseen snags in their stride. We can not recommend them enough! We are very, very pleased with the outcome and very grateful for the amazing job they have done. Thank you John, Ben and the team!
24 March, 2019

Anthony Wood
Relationship
Client
John's design was superb and we're impressed by how much bigger our small garden appears to be. It's now a great space to be in. The quality of the work was excellent with everyone showing a commitment to getting everything right. The ongoing conversation with Ben and John was effortless and the project management was highly professional as they kept us informed as each step progressed. We're delighted and we recommend them.

30 October, 2018

Tamara Williams
Relationship
Client
I cannot recommend Azara Landscapes highly enough! John is very knowledgeable and creative and worked with us on various concepts until we reached a proposal that we were happy with.
The team work to a high standard and were always professional and reliable and an absolute pleasure to deal with at all times.
We are thrilled with our new garden which has far exceeded our expectations!
11 October, 2018

Mel Leslie
Relationship
Client
Loved working with John and Ben on this project. John time to listen to our brief and his creative response absolutely nailed it from the start. He and Ben helped us work through creative solutions with materials to get not only the look and style that we were after, but to maximise the budget that we had to best effect. The team were a pleasure to work with and we are thrilled with the end result. Would thoroughly recommend Azara Landscapes if you’re looking for a creative and professional team for a garden project.
27 September, 2018

filbur
Relationship
Client
Azara Landscapes have been amazing to work with!!! They were able to deliver one of their high quality show gardens for us at a very reasonable price. I highly recommend Azara and in particular their Lead Designer John and Delivery Lead Ben. John has a keen eye for incorporating angles and shapes that brings our garden to life. Ben has the experience and adept team to deliver on these unique designs in a timely manner with high qualify craftsmanship. Every day I water my garden a new passerby comments on the amazing work I have done. Well, it wasn't me - it was Azara!!!
11 September, 2018

Mark Bernard
Relationship
Client
If you're looking for quality, imagination and creativity for your garden then look no further than John and Ben at Azara Landscapes. From detailed planning and scoping of the project at the outset, through to the highest level of work and craftsmanship during onsite phase, nothing is too much trouble. The result has been a fantastic design that has exceeded our expectations.
15 July, 2018

Shirani Rajapaksa
Relationship
Client
John was great from the very start. As soon as I made contact, he made time to visit me and listen to my ideas and desires for the small urban space I have. He drew up a few options and met again with me to show different textures for fencing and paving. His ideas book gave me a clear sense of the planting themes for the garden, taking into account lighting and seasonality.
John also viewed the progress of the contractors, who he knew well, and was able to report back to me when I was away from the property. Not only was he and his team competent, but worked with vigour and fun despite some hardy weather!
25 June, 2018

Sian Kevill
Relationship
Client
It was a delight to work with John and his teams. John is knowledgeable and creative allowing him to tailor his designs to both your suggestions and budgets. Work was done to a high standard.
9 April, 2018

Tanya Iguchi
Relationship
Client
After extensive renovations of our house, we asked John to design our garden within a tight budget, but he managed to come up with a plan which has completely transformed the space into a beautiful garden that we love to admire. We did not give him the simplest of briefs, a garden with a Japanese zen feel that could also double up as a sports field for the kids, but John came up with a great plan. He was there every step of the way to ensure that the project was delivered to the highest of standards and we can honestly say that is the aspect of our newly refurbished home with which we are most pleased! We cannot wait to go out and enjoy the space once the weather gets better! Thank you so much John!
6 February, 2018

Sarah & Ben Rigby
Relationship
Client
John has done a truly amazing job redesigning our garden. Initially, he was very good at listening to our ideas and then coming up with several proposals to meet our requirements.
His knowledge of the different types of wall materials, garden flooring, lighting options and (of course!) plants, that would suit our garden, was extensive. He was always available to answer queries no matter how small and did so promptly and with great care.
He has done a super job and we adore our garden, that has a new lease of life! John, thank you so much!
25 October, 2017

M Davidson
Relationship
Client
We hired John to re-design our garden for us and provide consulting on the planting plan, realising a specification for a landscape contractor, as well as doing all the planting at the end.
We had a very long thin garden with fencing around the perimeter covered in grass, odd couple of trees and some bushes at the far end. Quite dull and boring. John consulted with us several times with on site visits to our garden. He was really helpful and had so many good ideas, especially as we didn't know much about garden design. He explained options for creating the illusion of width with a cleverly designed use of space and type of fencing. John presented us with a couple of design proposals, of which we chose our final design and he contacted landscape gardeners to quote for the job.
He has a good eye for detail and created a beautiful modern design with useful decking and patio spaces for relaxing and our barbecue! We especially valued his explanation of how to chose plants, he gave great advice on what works best in sunny and shady areas and gave us lots of handy tips on websites to consult for choosing plants.
We are really pleased with how the garden has been redesigned and it's such a amazing change from what we had before. We would definitely recommend him.

30 September, 2017

Chris Hick
Relationship
Client
We were looking for a designer to create a garden following extensive house renovations and the building of an external annex at the end of the property. We were looking to create a space that joined the two buildings and to give us a small, low maintenance garden that we could enjoy with our 3 growing children.
John understood this brief fully and worked with us to look at the options and then produce comprehensive plans for our chosen solution. Once we had our plans John completed the tender exercise to help us find the right person to complete the work. When the garden was built John sourced the plants and completed the planting for us.
The garden was completed on time and has completely exceeded our expectations. The kids are able to enjoy the space as well as it providing a place for adults to sit and relax. It feels like an extra room has been added to the property. We have lighting in the garden which makes the space enjoyable at night from both the main house and the annex. We are using the garden every day and could not be happier.
John was very easy to work with and made himself available at weekends and in the evening to review plans and discuss options. He kept a close eye on the works and ensured they were completed to the high standard we had all agreed on.
We would not hesitate to recommend John as your garden designer. He listened and understood our brief well, he showed the knowledge and creative ability to maximise the use of the available space and it was all delivered within a reasonable budget.

27 September, 2017

Ben Margrie Azara Gardens Ltd.
Relationship
Colleague
John is a talented garden designer who produces incredibly clear, detailed and well presented drawings and plans. John is knowledgeable, professional and approachable, his high standards and great communication ensure a successful project. John is honourable and a pleasure to work with.



3 September, 2017Last modified:3 September, 2017

Ian Smith
Relationship
Client
John has done an amazing job of re-designing our garden turning it from a scruffy, messy eyesore into a (what we think is a) beautiful family space. Right from the first meeting he was professional, helpful and always made he we went above and beyond to make sure we were happy. Once we'd got the design finalised John helped us find a contractor then stayed involved throughout to make sure our garden was finished to the high standard that the design deserved. We're thrilled by the final results and are really thankful that we found John.
6 August, 2017

Tom Massey Landscape & Garden Design
Relationship
Colleague
I worked with John to delver a show garden at RHS Hampton Court. John was a pleasure to work with and together we achieved a gold medal. We are hoping to collaborate on future projects together.
29 May, 2017

padoan
Relationship
Colleague
John Ward designed UNHCR’s show garden at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in 2016, along with fellow designer Tom Massey, winning a gold medal and the coveted Best Conceptual Garden award. John is an exceptionally talented garden designer. His creativity, passion and professionalism were invaluable in bringing the UNHCR Border Control garden to life. The end result was far more than a garden; it captured the essence of the refugee experience and moved many visitors to tears.
John has a great can-do attitude and was able to deliver the project on time and on budget. As well as bringing innovative ideas to the project, he was also good at adapting the brief to our specific requirements and budget and finding solutions to some demanding challenges. It was a genuine pleasure working with John and we are already collaborating on future projects.
12 January, 2017Last modified:13 January, 2017

lucysebrosie
Relationship
Client
Hiring John Ward was the best step we could ever have taken. Creative and with massive attention to detail, resourceful and flexible, proactive but not pushy, John not only came up with several different fantastic design options for our garden, he also helped us source the right people to implement the finalised plans.
John has the all important personal touch. He really did listen to our brief and came up with creative solutions as well as addressing any challenges before we even knew they might be an issue. All designed and completed in a record time too - we are thrilled.
22 December, 2016

maps93
Relationship
Client
John did a tremendous job designing and planting our garden and we are thrilled with it. We did not feel like the easiest of clients with our expanding and sometimes contradictory list of requirements, but John dealt with it all. Even when we introduced a big change late on in the design phase ('lots of shade') he stayed calm and enthusiastic and wowed us with his design. We employed a builder who he had not worked with before (but we had) which I know was a concern for John - he worried about the quality of the end finish given they had not worked together before. But he respected our wishes, got on with it and in the end worked side by side with Lukasz and his team to get the garden planted and finished.
Whilst all the design work he did was really great, nothing beats actually seeing the garden change during the year and seeing new plants flower and change. Along with feeling we had a new room on the back of the house, and so using the garden far more, has been the biggest plus of his work. He knows his stuff and we now have our low-maintenance space with various reading areas (and lots of shade!). He is/was a delight to work with, stuck to his budgets/timeframe and we enjoy our new space every day.
Thanks John!
28 September, 2016

duncan_tickell
Relationship
Client
"We recently worked with John on a project to make the most of a small space. John understood our requirements and quickly turned these into a great design. We were also very grateful for all John's support throughout the project, from sourcing a landscaper through to ensuring his vision became reality - we were delighted with the results and wouldn't hesitate recommending him to others'.
20 September, 2016
Commented: What type of bamboo is used in this garden?Hi there - it is called Phyllostachys aurea (Golden bamboo). It was already in the garden when we started and we just pruned it into shape. If planting one I would always recommend putting it inside a...
26 May, 2020
Commented: plantHi Steven - the tree is a Japanese Maple (Acer dissectum 'Garnet') and the grasses in the gravel are called Hakonechloa macra.
10 February, 2020
Commented: plant name?Hi Steven - this is Golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)
17 January, 2020
Commented: plantsHi Tria - the main plant is a golden bamboo called Phyllostachys aurea while the small red leaved tree in the foreground is a Japanese Maple called Acer dissectum. The light green grasses are Hakonech...
16 September, 2018
Commented: Love the cedar panels.Hi Giuseppe - we designed and custom made the cedar panels ourselves - can’t really buy this type of thing off the shelf as far as I know.
6 August, 2018
Commented: is the fence sitting on something.Hi there - the fence is on a 150mm deep gravel board which protects the panel from rot. Is your problem that the fence is rotting due to the ground being continually wet? Best option would be to addre...
19 March, 2018
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