See our Orara Valley project on ABC’s Dream Gardens, presented by Michael McCoy. Download available from iView.
This garden was a challenge!
Part of a large block in the country, for this garden we focused on a relatively small and steep area that is in full view and accessed from the main living area of the residence. The clients wanted to be able to use this garden as an extension of the living room, incorporating paving, a pergola, water feature and a lawn for putting and for the dogs to enjoy.
Despite it’s location, this is not a country style garden. The client’s brief was for a structured, minimalist look.
Concrete in it’s many forms features strongly in this garden.
Concrete blocks, a by-product of concrete production, were sourced for the substantial retaining walls. And, steel U-Piles, usually used in civil projects, made the perfect material for another, very narrow retaining wall where space was at a premium.
Instead of more traditional paving, colour through concrete makes up the hard surfaces. The curves in the concrete reflect the circular concrete seats surrounding the fireplace.
In keeping with the clean industrial look the deck under the pergola is made with a fibre cement sheet decking product. The posts of the pergola are varnished black timber with laser cut Corten Steel screens protecting the seating and a cement look ceiling.
Water from the custom made concrete channel spills into the Corten steel water feature.
The plants shapes had to be strong enough to hold up against the strong geometric lines and at the same time soften and support the structures. The main shapes are provided by pruned Box and Casuarina balls, heavily pruned grey Helichrysum and the softer, free flowing shapes of grasses. Trees give height, Acer Senkaki and Magnolia denudata are the main feature trees.
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