ABOUT THE PROJECT

LDI National Landscape Design Awards 

2023 – National Gold Award – Residential Design Mid/Large Garden

This project proves that downsizing does not have to mean living without ambition! The clients had just moved to a smaller house in need of a landscape refresh to match their plans for the interior.

One of the most striking features of the property is a wall of sliding glass doors facing out into a long, narrow stretch of garden, which had been in a state of disrepair – visible from the main entrance and the combined kitchen-dining area. The brief was to deliver something with both the ‘wow factor’ to make an impression on guests, as well as the depth to sustain interest for the homeowners in the long term.

The solution was a custom sculpture constructed using Accoya wood running the length of this space, creating a focal point as well as a ribbon connection from the front entrance out into the rear garden. The shape of the sculpture is derived from the wedding song of the clients’ daughter, giving them a personal connection into the space as well. Tall sliding glass doors allow the internal spaces to open up and embrace the external garden.

A corner seat gives a quiet space for reflection or chatting, and from here the shape morphs into an organic, skeletal structure that modulates out into the garden. The sculpture itself is folded around custom planters for additional greenery, with soft, rounded shrubs planted underneath bringing form and colour into the narrow space. The sculpture material is reflected in the choice of decking timber, which brings the eye out into the garden.

The small rear garden was taken up with wide concrete steps and an expanse of synthetic lawn, offering little function other than circulation. The design built in a deck and BBQ to extend the adjacent kitchen and allow easy flow around the perimeter of the house. The lower level was converted into a seating area for relaxed gathering, with stepstones and groundcovers bringing the organic feel of the decking and sculpture down to the level of the existing pool.