home
about
services
portfolio
press
contact us
Location: Remuera, Auckland
Budget: $50k
The first problem was the Puriri tree as care had to be taken not to harm it and its strong established root system would keep on growing. To create the formal terraces we chose plastered concrete block to match the boundary wall and plastered finish of the house. The problem was however that if the roots of the tree were to put pressure on this it would crack and show immediately. <br><br>Also concreteing in foundations around the roots would not be good. For this reason we chose schist stone which, due to its natural appearance and joints wouldn’t show movement in the walls until much later. They would also be easier to relay if they did move in the distant future. <br><br>A circle was created around the tree (being easy to create in the schist stone), making a feature of it and levelling new soil over the mound of its roots. The steps down from this were then based on the new soil rather than in the root zone. This circular schist feature then stands out like a sore thumb in a very square formal design using plastered concrete block walls. We decided to create circles built of schist in all the main focal points to give a theme running through the garden and making the most of the contrast between the two styles. <br><br>Circle steps then radiate down from the front gate and the waterfeature is in the form of a curved raised schist wall with a vertical cascade feature at the rear positioned up the boundary wall and in full view of both windows looking out onto the garden. The garden was levelled by creating retaining walls along the foot of the boundary wall with raised beds behind- maximising the next level with a lawn and gravel paths which then steps down another low retaining wall to the paved areas. The BBQ is positioned around the corner next to the main area which is paved with a grid of pavers and gravel. <br><br>On the other side of the BBQ structure is the fireplace which has 3 flame jets creating a stunning visual display. The fir is backed with mirror-finish stainless steel to maximise the effect of the flames.<br><br>The water feature has been designed to emulate this with 3 foaming jets which are lit from below with blue LED lights.<br><br>The area leading to the front door has been terraced using macrocarpa sleepers and paved with 400 square sandstone coloured pavers. The planting is simple with a main frame of bangalow palms underplanted with orange vireyas and edged with a formal box hedge. Red cabbage trees with their strong form and colour flank the gate and water feature.
<< Previous Garden
Next Garden >>
Click to enlarge
SITEMAP
LINKS
CREDITS
©2010 Take It Outside Ltd
