Outdoor Design Issue #41 2021

When the worries of the world become too much, why waste time dreaming of escaping to a luxury resort in some far-flung location when you can create a private haven — a place in which you can entertain or relax — in your own backyard? A well-appointed, comfortably furnished outdoor room or alfresco living space can give you a holiday-at-home experience, providing you with somewhere you can unwind in splendid isolation or use as a venue for entertaining friends and family when you feel like just letting loose. While having deep pockets will get you the very best of everything, you don’t need an unlimited budget to infuse your outdoor living space with the kind of comfort and style you desire — and deserve. Barbecues, outdoor kitchens, woodfired ovens, furniture,…

Thanks to the design expertise and project management skills of A Total Concept, an established company specialising in both landscape architecture and swimming pool design, the owners of this Sydney property have a rear garden retreat that exceeds their every expectation. “We wanted to create a total concept for them. A contemporary resort-style space incorporating a cabana and pool along with an expanse of lawn and gardens,” says John Storch, director of A Total Concept. “What we have achieved for the owners is a space that incorporates everything a family could want for both day-to-day living and weekend socialising at home.” This was a project of many parts. “The rear of the property looked outward onto a bushland reserve but had little privacy from adjacent neighbours, so we bounded the…

What drew you to landscape design? My grandfather was a creative inventor and gardener. When I was a child he was forever talking to me and showing me his ideas and designs, and pointing out shapes, details and plants and how these went together in the world. He taught me how to be creative and to observe, feel and understand good and bad design, both in the natural and built environments. When he passed, his ideas, sketching notes and images became mine and he instilled in me a lifelong habit of collecting ideas and details, sketching and a love of plants. These ideas form the basis of the concept images library that we use when designing a garden. It was my grandfather who encouraged me to become a landscape architect.…

Picture this. It’s a sunny Sunday and there you sit in your pool house, nice and cosy on a comfy lounge, refreshing drink in hand. In front of you, the cool water of the pool and the luxuriant landscape beckon. For one family in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn, no imagination is required — this is their reality, summer through to winter, thanks to the design and construction expertise of Erin Green, director of Nature’s Best Landscapes. “When I was brought on board by the owners, the design was still very much in the early conceptual stage. This afforded me the opportunity to review all the details and fine tune the overall design of the pool house, pool and surrounding garden,” says Erin. “The design is well structured, with the…

What drew you to designing gardens? Almost 30 years ago I helped my father to landscape our newly built family home during the school holidays. It was so rewarding and from there I developed a love of working outdoors and creating something from scratch. After completing Year 12, I was delighted to be accepted to study for a horticulture degree at Melbourne University’s Burnley Campus. Have you a set design approach? Overall, my approach is to always try to achieve something that will be timeless. I start by listening to what the client wants and then I suggest design ideas that will ensure they have a functional, visually appealing space that complements the environment and enhances the existing architecture. By listening to the client, closely observing the surroundings and introducing…

The world’s best gardens have a sense of belonging. They look and feel as if they naturally evolved in that place. Intertwined with that sense of place are the aspirations and personalities of the owners. Just as importantly, the most successful gardens are places for living. Picturesque views that can be enjoyed from inside the home aren’t enough — the garden has to entice you outside. This beguiling garden in Rye on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula ticks every box. It draws on the nearby sand dunes and indigenous coastal plantings for inspiration. In particular, it employs the existing Moonah trees to frame garden views, blurring the lines between where the garden ends and the undulating dunes begin. The design was a collaborative effort between Ben McDonald, director of Iluka Landscape Developments,…