3 minute read
SETTING THE SCENE
the scene
NOW IS THE TIME TO START ENJOYING YOUR PROPERTY’S BACKYARD. GOOM LANDSCAPES OFFER SOME GUIDING PRINCIPLES ON HOW TO ADD BEAUTY AND VALUE, AS THEY SHOWCASE THEIR RECENT AWARD-WINNING WORK IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
HARDY NATIVE PLANTING
These New Zealand native plants deal well with the extremes of wind, sun and snow – and look great too!
In Canterbury, we know all about the harsh environmental conditions of our weather. Just in the last couple of months, we have been subjected to an array of punishing weather conditions. Landscaping in a way that minimises these is vital. For example, wind can shut down many an evening’s entertainments, so creating shelter from wind is crucial to getting the most of your outdoor spaces.
In the case of their recent Terrace Downs project, the team at Goom set about dealing with the 100 km/hour winds synonymous of the area by carrying out some creative planting and hardscaping. The materials, soft and hard, had to survive these extremes. Jessica Staples, senior landscape architect at Goom, explains more.
“There are many days when being outside in the high country isn’t a pleasant experience. The grand vistas have to be enjoyed from the protection of the indoors, and the landscape design needs to be in the foreground of those views,” Jessica says.
This project shows how good design reacts to the specific requirements of the setting. In addition to the hardy native planting, underground heating was installed to prevent snow and ice sitting on the driveway.
The key is to use your surrounds as a feature. In urban projects on the flat, there may be no view, or if there is, it might be into the neighbour’s adjoining property. So, screening and landscaping are crucial.
If you are landscaping on the hills or in a rural setting, the view is likely to be the star of the show. Therefore, the landscaping should enhance this, rather than detract from it. This was certainly the case for the Terrace Downs project, where the client sought a minimalist Japanese-inspired aesthetic, so the focal point remained the stunning views.
Decks are still popular features of any garden area. But remember when building a deck, ensure it is of a functional size. If too small, guests will struggle to relax if they are always concerned about tipping over the edge. For the clients of the Terrace Downs project, they knew they wanted a deck large enough to house a sizeable outdoor table and chairs and several bean bags for relaxing and taking in the view.
Noting that landscaping is a long-term project, the owners chose to complete the work in phases. Goom staggered the layout of the decks so that they appear to float amongst the planting and most recently the team has completed a beautiful solid wood bench that is sturdy enough not to blow away in the wind.
ROCK SOLID
A jagged line of local rocks break up the formal planes to the front door, continuing beyond the house to connect with a natural outcrop.
This project won the RML premier award for Best Construction in 2019, with judges noting the outstanding workmanship of Goom.
“The elegant water feature pools have been constructed to perfection to create even flows from numerous levels and are complemented at night by clever lighting,” comments one of the judges. “With all aspects of construction carried out and completed by Goom to the highest of standards, High Country Zen is a very worthy winner of Best Construction 2019.”
Whether it’s rural or urban, small or large, Goom are always excited about working with you to beautify your outdoor space.
