A favourite garden with local residents for its mix of exotics and natives tended lovingly for many years, the challenge was to retain this sense of the garden that was, while building a new, light filled home. Existing canopy trees of Banksia integrifolia, Agonis flexuosa, Arbutus sp., flowering Plum and Bearded Heath were retained, as well as a prolifically fruiting Lemon tree. A new garden was designed with sinuous lines: a relaxed setting for family and friends; a place for sitting, playing, engaging in nature play and enjoying the new pool.
Two ancient Banksia frame the pedestrian gate and form a canopy to come through the shade into the light and textured planting, that provides both privacy and outlook from house and pool terrace. A quiet space for sitting under the draping foliage of the Agonis meanders off to a pathway for children to adventure through garden beds and sit on remnant curvy trunks retained on site. At pool’s edge, foliage sits high in line with the terrace and affords additional enclosure.
The main entry and driveway are paved in cobbles in coastal tones, and this is offset with planting that highlights forms and textures of various hardy species including semi-mature Olive trees to frame the arrival experience. Views outwards from the house include a further solid trunked Olive as axial view from the hallway, windows overlooking courtyards and embankment planting, as well as a broad terrace undercover of the house overhang. This looks outwards to a curvy swathe of lawn, water bowls for birdlife, seating and layers of planted interest beyond.
