THE BEST MAGAZINE | 2022
2021 INDUSTRY AWARD WINNER: RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE OF THE YEAR
Last year, Landscaping Victoria Master Landscapers saw the highest number of entries seen in over 7 years for the Annual Industry Awards. 23 Awards in total were presented. Lisa Ellis Gardens were the recipients of the Residential Landscape of the Year Award, with their "Skyline" Melbourne Project. Lisa Ellis reflects on the journey from design brief to garden build.
We had the first meeting with our client only a few months prior to the commencement of the build. We knew that the challenge was a considerable one: more than 400 square metres or rooftop garden on the 18th floor, the build of which was scheduled to be carried out with the apartment fit-out.
One of the client must-haves was a lawn. So we conceived the idea of an ‘infinity lawn’ on the eastern side of the rooftop to anchor the view to the Dandenongs in the morning. Most people who visit the garden cannot believe that it’s possible to have a lush green manicured lawn seemingly in the sky.
Plant selection was a big component of this project. It was to be through planting that the different zones would be created- and also the emotional response our client sought would be achieved.
Our client explained that she wanted to feel an emotional response from her garden. An avid gardener, it made sense that there would be a key focus on plants. We recognised that the views to the Dandenongs, the view across the city skyline, and then north west to Port Philip Bay and Albert Park Lake needed to be safeguarded. So our design response needed to frame those key views.
Generally speaking the biggest challenge for plants on a rooftop or terrace is wind tolerance. It’s also important to note that many plants that may be highly wind tolerant do not necessarily sit under the drought tolerance banner. Therein lies one of the interesting and nuanced quirks of plant selection!
The design of this rooftop garden In our design we created ‘zoned’ areas of the garden where we would change the feel and the tapestry of planting material.
Our light rod garden on the northern side pairs sculptural light rods powdercoated bronze to pick up and enhance the city skyline. The light rods comprised three different heights to bring about a playfulness through the ephemeral long flowering perennials and grasses.
...continued next page Images by Eric Holt Photography
11
