H&G GARDEN
Design
INDUSTRIAL EDGE With bold plantings and a finely tuned sense of composition, the outdoor areas of this inner-city residence have been transformed into dynamic spaces teeming with life and texture. TEXT BY ELIZABETH WILSON v PHOTOGRAPHY NICK WATT
THE BRIEF Urban courtyards are the perfect places in which to “think big”, says Richard Unsworth from landscape design firm Garden Life. It’s an approach he applied when asked to reinvigorate this courtyard and internal atrium, part of a converted factory space in Sydney’s inner west. “They were beautiful spaces but the planting was uninspiring and the scale of the elements within them was wrong,” says Richard. “Everything was small, with things dotted here and there.” In the 100m² courtyard, he installed a lightweight 2x2m concrete and fibreglass planter. Planted with two towering Japanese maples, it has become the centrepiece of the space. In the 50m² atrium, meanwhile, Richard planted swathes of strappy foliage plants, in the earth and in oversized pots, around an existing sandstone wall. “We’ve softened the spaces, adding movement and warmth,” he says. “In these inner-city spaces, it’s all about the textures and composition of the elements.” >
Richard Unsworth PRINCIPAL, GARDEN LIFE
“ A successful outdoor space needs to have points of interest at different levels: elements of discovery and surprise that stimulate the senses. We’ve achieved that here with strong focal points and different textures.”
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A hanging reed sculpture by Tracey Deep enlivens the atrium. To soften the sandstone wall that snakes through the space, Richard has planted a variety of foliage plants including strappy wild iris, mounds of Pittosporum ‘Miss Muffet’ and long-leafed Sansevieria ‘Congo’. The groundcover is Trachelospermum asiaticum (Japanese star jasmine) and the concrete bowl is planted with mondo grass.
WIT AND WHIMSY Another reed sculpture by Sydney-based artist Tracey Deep adds a sense of kinetic energy to the space.
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL Richard took his design cues from the building itself. “It’s a solid, robust old building with a cutting-edge renovation within, so we created a scheme that’s bold but has warmth and texture.”
PLANTER’S PUNCH A central 2x2m planter is like a mini garden within the courtyard. The two Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) occupying it will grow to around 3m. They are underplanted with lime-green Acacia cognata, Dietes iridioides (wild iris) and Carex ‘Frosted Curls’.
TEXTURE MESSAGE Planted inside the trough is hardy Carex ‘Frosted Curls’, a grass with browngreen tones that provides visual and textural contrast. The strands of grass have been woven into rounded shapes for an unexpected twist. Another planter (right) overflows with soft spears of ornamental cardamom.
ROLL WITH IT This trough, like the larger planter, is made from a lightweight concretefibreglass mix. Both are fitted with industrialstrength castors so they can be easily moved for a change of scene and for maintenance.
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H&G GARDEN A
B A This green wall, located on the deck level of the courtyard, consists of a steel box frame with hand-thrown pots perched inside. Plants include varieties of mistletoe cactus (Rhipsalis) and string of pearls (Senecio). B A prime seat from which to soak up the atmosphere. C A Ficus lyrata (fiddleleaf fig) above planters filled with Pittosporum ‘Miss Muffet’, a reliable mounding plant in sun or shade. D Healthy specimens include Spathiphyllum ‘Sensation’ (left) and a bromeliad, Vriesea fosteriana.
< PERFORMANCE BONUS
“Everything is visible from the home, and there’s no room for plants that don’t perform,” says Richard. Both the courtyard (left) and atrium (below) are subject to extreme shade and sun. “When it comes to choosing plants that perform, I always choose foliage plants with good form rather than flowering plants,” says Richard. Colour variation is important, too, from the emerald Dietes to the brown-hued grasses and deep green hedge of Nandina domestica (left). “We can see each element and plant for what it is,” says Richard. “It’s all about creating good tension.”
RICHARD’S TIPS FOR OUTDOOR SPACES
Bird’s-eye view
This overhead view of the atrium shows the sandstone wall and river pebbles curving through the space. “I love the contrast of the sandstone with the variety of foliage,” says Richard.
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Pretty tough
Deites iridioides (wild iris) is the star in this garden, chosen for its soft looks, graceful arching habit and robust nature: “It’s green, lush, prolific and tough,” says Richard.
Cute contrast
At the back of the atrium, there’s a gorgeous study in opposites: soft mounds of Pittosporum ‘Miss Muffet’ planted beside the wild tufts of Carex ‘Frosted Curls’.
Well grounded
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Illustration by Allison Langton.
For a groundcover, Richard has used Japanese star jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum). It’s finer than Chinese star jasmine yet it’s a vigorous grower that does well in either sun or shade.
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Courtyard 1 Ficus lyrata 2 Pittosporum ‘Miss Muffet’ 3 Nandina domestica 4 Acer palmatum with Acer dissectum, Dietes iriodides, Acacia cognata, Carex ‘Frosted Curls’ 5 Tracey Deep reed sculpture 6 Trough with Carex ‘Frosted Curls’ 7 Granite paving 8 Spathiphyllum ‘Sensation’ 9 Outdoor seating 10 Hardwood decking
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❖ Plant choice is crucial. Select plants that will thrive in particular conditions: they may need to withstand sun exposure, for example, or long periods of shade. ❖ In windy spots, use robust pots with large bases and avoid tall, skinny shapes that will easily blow over. ❖ Think about scale: make bold statements and avoid the use of small pots in confined spaces. ❖ To keep the composition interesting, establish a strong focal point and use groupings of different plants. ❖ Layer plants for a full look and take care to create interest in the foreground as well as in the distance. ❖ Bring together different elements for textural contrast. For example, you might place a slick, minimalist white cylinder pot next to an antique or rustic timber one, or use soft, mounding foliage with architectural or grassy foliage. #
Garden Life, Redfern, NSW; (02) 8399 0666 or www.gardenlife.com.au.