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My missus has suggested putting a pergola and some lighting in but I can't help feeling that's just papering over the cracks of the real issue and it'll still feel cold, damp and overlooked.
Pergolas seem to be very in right now. My 2p is like a lot of these trends they only work when they are a sensible solution to the problem/issue. When they're not it'll just be another thing people rip out in 5yrs. Other than Pinterest bingo, I genuinely can't see what problem it solves for you.
You've really got to start by thinking what you would like to (or can) use the space for.
Based on your description, imo you can't escape the fundamental fact that while it is an outdoor space there is nothing you can do to prevent it from being cold and damp. Yes you can visually brighten it, but you'll still be cold when you sit/stand there. Therefore, my 2p is:
if you can get on board with the cold and damp, then really embrace it and do what Sheppz said, but with a more woodland focus than jungle, including mosses and a cool water feature. Weather will be more erratic going forward, so it's likely there will be blazing summers where it will be nice to have somewhere cool. For the rest of the time make it interesting enough to want to be there or at least to look at through the kitchen window. Low light the plants.
If it being cold makes it an unusable space for you, go with Tenderloin's courtyard suggestion, but cover it with glass. This actually seems like one of the rare use cases for a conservatory (obvs not a fucking hideous shit one). Then you will lock in enough warmth to go the jungle route. Obviously it'll still be damp, but could be a nice spot for winter coffee and again, give something interesting to look at through the window.
No.1 could be done for not too much money first. Then if it doesn't solve the problem go with No.2.
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hugo7
I need some help/inspiration.
We're in the middle of four-storey victorian terrace. We love the house and don't want to move so i've been thinking about what we can do about the patio at the back. It's in a north facing garden hemmed in by the 4 storeys of the main block to the south, a single storey extension off the back of our house to the east and a two storey extension off the back of the end-terrace to the west. As a result this bit of the garden gets absolutely zero direct sunlight.
We've had it paved and put a couple of steps up to the rest of the garden but it's basically dead space. Anything i try and grow there dies, even stuff selected to be shade loving. It's cold, damp, dark and basically not a nice place to be. I'm at a bit of a loss to be honest. My missus has suggested putting a pergola and some lighting in but I can't help feeling that's just papering over the cracks of the real issue and it'll still feel cold, damp and overlooked.
The neighbours to the west are having plans drawn-up for work in summer 2022 which include building a new 2 storey extension where there's currently a single storey outhouse. I've talked to them about it as I was concerned about it making our dingy patio even more dank, but to be honest, there's already a double height extension immediately to the west of theirs which blocks the evening light from that direction.
Basically, i'm starting to think that trying to salvage it as useable outside space is a bust and wondering about extending the house to get some better use of the space. Crap drawing attached. Any ideas? The lower ground floor is the main kitchen and living area where the family spend most of their time. Our single storey extension is an ugly blockwork utility and loo that we've just had done-up to make it useable, but I would not be adversed to knocking it down and starting again for the right plan.