Layers of foliage offset a bold architectural form
Melbourne landscape design frim, Eckersley Garden Architecture, are well known for their layered foliage, overhead canopies and green walls. This lush back garden draped in green does not disappoint. Director of E-GA, Scott Leung, says the outdoor space was designed for a young family who are keen gardeners with a brief for a lush green outlook from their new contemporary home. “We needed to create outdoor rooms that could be used all year round as well as spaces for all active and passive usage,” says Scott. The suburban block was sloping and overlooked by neighbours, posing initial challenges for the design team.
“We started with the screening elements both from the neighbours and softening of very high retaining walls. Small evergreen trees, climbers up both retaining walls and fences and finishing with cascading groundcovers,” Scott explains.
Using copses of small trees and creeper clad pergolas and arbours, E-GA were able to create canopy layers overhead; enhancing the ambience of the outdoor rooms while adding much-needed shade for the summer months.
“All the outdoor rooms and garden paths were finished in a more textural and natural surface to offset the boldness of the contemporary building form”
“All the outdoor rooms and garden paths were finished in a more textural and natural surface to offset the boldness of the contemporary building form”, explains Scott who chose Endicott® hand-chipped Split Stone as the core material in the restrained palette. The modular format paving was laid in the main living areas while large steepers were position throughout the informal garden paths creating a transition from one zone to the next.
