One of our more unusual commissions, this traditional Japanese-inspired Machiai was created for a client in Bishops Nympton who wanted a sheltered resting place within their established Japanese garden.

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The structure was handcrafted from locally sourced green Douglas fir using traditional mortise and tenon joinery. With the garden already well established, every element was designed specifically for its setting, from the proportions of the frame to the live-edge front posts sourced especially for the project.

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The client had already purchased a bamboo panel they wanted to incorporate, so the frame was designed around it rather than trying to adapt it afterwards. A Kinin-ishi was also set into the concrete floor - a traditional feature used to mark the position of the principal guest within a Japanese tea ceremony setting. The finished Machiai provides a sheltered place to sit and enjoy the garden while remaining true to the character and traditions that inspired it.

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It’s a great example of what bespoke means at Axe & Timber. A client can come to us with something completely outside the ordinary and we can work through the timber, construction and individual details needed to bring the idea to life.