Our clients enlisted us to transform their tired old terrace backyard, into a practical and aesthetic outdoor space for their growing family.

This Paddington terrace had been completely modernised internally and to the rear, and accessed via a rear laneway is a two-level building that includes a double garage at ground level and an office above. This building was quite imposing when viewed from the rear of the house.

The courtyard was otherwise dominated by an old spa, clad and surrounded by dark wooden decking. Apart from some climbers growing on the walls, and several poorly shaped trees, the ambiance was dark and uninviting. The client has 2 young children and the courtyard was not conducive as a play zone.

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The surrounding architecture is somewhat dominant, with little to offer as a borrowed landscape. It was therefore essential to maintain the existing climbers but add more, via vertical trellis wire, such that in time, the two side walls were covered in greenery. An existing Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) to the upper level of the rear building was maintained to add to the charm of the courtyard, providing further greenery in summer, with textural variations in autumn and winter.

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The clients wanted to create a space of classic clean lines, symmetry in layout, and a focal point to diminish the garage presence. Also, there was a requirement for the play zone centred around the client's desire to play cricket with their young children whilst maintaining access to and from the garage.

We added in synthetic grass, that would withhold many matches of cricket and created symmetry and clean lines with the paving layout between the house and the rear building.

Snow Pears (Pyrus nivalis) was selected to replace the trees, providing great shade in summer allowing the winter sun to penetrate good light during the cooler months. The grey-green leaf of the Pyrus nivalis works well within the colour palette of the entire garden.

The plant palette otherwise includes Australian natives blending beautifully with the deciduous trees and climbers. The use of sandstone blocks amongst Westringia fruticosa Blue Gem and Smokey, Correa alba, Lomandra hystrix and Lomandra shara mulched with decomposed granite provides the authentic touch of an Australian garden in an urban courtyard.

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Check out the entire project here!