Photography: Kris Martyn
Nature leads the way in this tiered garden in northern Sydney. From first light to last, a glossy tapestry of green casts a glow at every juncture of the stepped terrain. Rising through the rear garden, a lagoon-style pool stands strong under the watch of a majestic Bangalow palm.
With a raised corner window and curved timber batten fence, the swim zone signals seductively to all below. Yet, when parents-of-three Georgia and Andrew reached out to landscape design and construction company Formed Gardens, this backyard area of their renovated Federation-era home appeared far less enticing.
“My favourite pocket of the garden depends on the time of day. I love the back corner when the sun is going down and the barbecue area is beautiful in the morning”
GEORGIA, HOMEOWNER
“The garden wasn’t landscaped and didn’t work well with the sloping block,” says Georgia. “We’d done a lot to the house over the years, and the garden was the final but very important stage.” It was here that landscape architect Luke Baldwin and his Formed Gardens team truly shone, delivering an inspired master plan that turned obstacles into opportunities.
“The site had very limited access around the renovated house, which made the excavation tricky and quite technical in terms of working the pool position carefully around the existing bedrock features,” says Luke. Despite this challenging topography, it was crucial, Luke explains, that the custombuilt pool appeared connected to the garden, rather than feeling “crammed in” to a corner of the landscape. As such, sandstone steps now lead up to the luminous lagoon, which is surrounded by offset merbau timber battens. There are playful aspects to the design, too.
“A sandstone ledge sits nicely to the corner of the swimming pool, creating a perfect diving point for the kids,” says Luke. Other distinct zones in the garden include an existing deck in the highest corner – now “a beautiful destination for relaxation and enjoying the outlook over the garden,” says Luke – and a lush lawn next to the pool.
“It’s the delicate detail of things, like the crawl of native violet between the natural sandstone steps, that excites me”
LUKE BALDWIN, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
An existing courtyard was also expanded to include a custom-built concrete barbecue bench, bespoke joinery and built-in timber seating.
With the hardscaping done, it was time for the garden itself to be transformed. A primarily evergreen palette of mass plantings ensures this oasis is low-maintenance. Stand-outs include Alpinia henryi, silver-hued trailing licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare), tractor seat plant and cascading rosemary. “In spring and summer, the flush growth of green brings a new shade of life to the garden,” says Luke.
The backyard is now a retreat that provides a connection to nature as well as spaces for all – the family’s Golden Retrievers Bear and Bluey included. “The garden has made such a huge difference to how we all enjoy the house,” says Georgia. Indeed, while the family are relocating temporarily to Ireland for work commitments, they can’t wait to return home to the garden of their dreams. “It’s so lovely to know it will be waiting for us,” adds Georgia with a smile.
you feel like you’re on holidays,” says Luke. (Credit: Photography: Kris Martyn)
SOURCE BOOK – your trusted home directory >>
Landscape design & construction: Formed Gardens, formedgardens.com.au.
Be the first to read this story by subscribing to Home Beautiful magazine
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
