A beach house retreat, designed for relaxed, family oriented time away from busy lives in the city. With the house at the rear, the main garden space is at the front, banking sharply down from the street. The owners liked the previous garden of classic beach-house plants, hardy flowering shrubs and ground covers, and wanted to maintain a connection with this, and previous owners’ lives and garden intentions. A courtyard for outlook and dining is the focal point, but the journey downwards is important. Transitioning from street level, through substantial old Eucalypts, down a meandering stairway amongst plants. Extensive rockwork references the previous rockery-lined driveway and allows separation between upper level car parking, the journey down the hill and the level entertaining space adjacent to the house. Tall windows frame the garden views and olive trees provide light foliage cover upwards to the street.