The Composer’s Cabin

The Cabin

The power of peatlands, horticulture and music shapes the concept behind The Composer’s Cabin. Set within a landscape inspired by the wild moors of West Penwith and the lush, subtropical planting that flourishes in the softer, frost-free climate of this part of Cornwall.
 
The designer mirrors leaf shapes and forms inside and out, dissolving the boundaries between houseplants like Monstera deliciosa and what thrives beyond the cabin walls, such as Tetrapanax papyrifer and Fatsia polycarpa. Inside the cabin, whose quiet charm recalls a 17th-century cottage, visitors encounter a Steinway baby grand piano surrounded by lush planting. An immersive soundscape evokes the unique acoustics of peat bogs, bringing this fragile habitat to life.
 
On the roof are transplanted sections of peatland bog, with delicate sphagnum mosses and Eriophorum angustifolium (cotton grass). The result is a retreat where creativity is not imposed upon nature but composed in quiet dialogue with it.

Key plants

Plants are used to blur the boundaries between inside and outside using leaf form and texture:

• Monstera
• Philadendron
• Alocasia
• Tetrapanax
• Geranium madarense
• Fatsia polycarpa

About the designer – Martha Krempel

Martha began her horticultural career at 13 in Yorkshire before studying Fine Art and Film, focusing on building large metal sculptures designed to sit within the landscape. She founded Big Sky Studios in 1992, a full production photography studio, working across stills photography, furniture and lighting design, space planning and interiors. After retraining in garden design in 2013, she launched her studio in 2014, going on to produce award‑winning projects including the RHS Chelsea Balcony Garden Arcadia (2021). Her work has earned recognition such as the ProLandscape Big Impact Award (2018), the Vande Moortel Award (2018/19) and Society of Garden and Landscape Awards (2019). Martha’s gardens have appeared in Gardens Illustrated and The Telegraph, where her blend of creativity, environmental awareness and storytelling is celebrated for producing immersive, memorable landscapes.

About the sponsor – London St. Pancras Highspeed

London St Pancras Highspeed provides a gateway to culture and sustainability. More than a station, London St Pancras is a place where journeys begin and end. It is also where people connect, shop and dine. The station’s much-loved public pianos create spontaneous moments of human connection, perfectly aligning with The Composer’s Cabin.

The station operator has also led the way in innovative environmental engagement. Its recent peatland restoration project highlighted the carbon-capturing power of bogs and engaged travellers in a unique and meaningful way. This partnership builds on this legacy.

​Sustainability notes

The peatland planting will be returned to its natural habitat and an adapted version of The Composer’s Cabin will be relocated to London St Pancras Station for a pop-up experience in June.