A Garden Designed to Be Lived In

One of my favourite designs from 2021, this project explores the power of geometry to shape both beauty and functionality. Circles, arcs and flowing curved forms became the organising language of the landscape, softening the home's strong architectural lines while improving circulation, creating visual rhythm and maximising every square metre of usable outdoor space. The result is a garden that feels far larger than its footprint suggests, with each curve carefully positioned to guide movement, frame views and create a sense of discovery.

The landscape unfolds as a series of interconnected garden rooms, drawing the eye through layers of texture, colour and seasonal interest. Carefully curated planting provides year-round beauty, with flowering perennials, sculptural foliage, architectural succulents, productive edibles and evergreen structure creating a landscape that continually evolves. Every major internal space enjoys a framed outlook to greenery, ensuring the garden remains a daily experience rather than something viewed only when outdoors.

A restrained material palette of exposed aggregate paving, timber decking, natural stone, river pebbles, corten steel detailing and charcoal fencing establishes a sophisticated backdrop that allows the planting to take centre stage. As the garden matures, the intention is for the boundaries to soften and disappear beneath layers of vegetation, creating a sense of privacy, depth and enclosure.

The rear garden balances relaxation and entertaining with equal success. A custom rendered feature wall anchors a flexible gathering space, concealing practical elements while creating an elegant backdrop for a portable barbecue, intimate firepit evenings and casual entertaining. Feature stepping stones, layered lighting and carefully considered sightlines add moments of discovery throughout the landscape.

Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of this project is how it continues to improve with time. Five years on, the garden is becoming increasingly lush and immersive—exactly as intended—with multiple layers of planting rising from groundcovers to screening vegetation and small trees. The result is a rich, ever-changing outlook enjoyed from both inside and outside the home, demonstrating the value of designing not only for day one, but for the years and decades that follow.