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CREATING FAMILY FRIENDLY SPACES IN MANLY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

7 August 2019

 

Garden transformations are a specialty of Joanne Green Landscape & Interior and additionally, creating liveable family spaces which blend functionality and beauty. This landscape renovation in Sydney’s lush beachside suburb of Manly was no different.

 

Joanne Green Landscape & Interior was initially contacted in 2016 by the Snow family, and when first viewing the site, immediately realised that there was a challenge ahead. The site was sloped with an awkward arrangement of steps and walls that created unusable, narrow “platforms” across multiple levels. After discussing the various requirements for the site, the detailed brief was formed. The coastal garden was to create a series of functional spaces, incorporating a dining and entertaining area with cooking facilities, a child- and pet-friendly lawn, as well as improve accessibility and movability across the inclined site. The design also needed to resonate with the architecture of the dwelling and exude a feeling of privacy and tranquillity.

 

Landscape Designer, Rory Graham was leading the project and noted that the largest influencer of the design was the gradient of the site. “It needed to be addressed in a way which would connect the spaces within the landscape, allow for moveability and create (and maximise) the areas which could be truly lived-in.” says Graham. To achieve this, stairs paved in natural Bluestone and a series of rendered walling was incorporated, to create clear pathways which would separate areas of the garden. With the number of stairs in the design, garden and pathway lighting was an equally important feature and was strategically positioned to ensure useability into the evenings.

 

A fundamental feature of the Snow’s brief was to include an outdoor dining area, appropriate for hosting their growing family. Constructed on the newly levelled site was a spacious entertaining area with large dining table comfortably seating 10 guests and purposefully designed bench seating built along one side to evoke a relaxed dining atmosphere. Positioned adjacently sits a custom tiled bench-top with a built-in gas barbecue and sink to complete the open-air dining space.

 

Deliberate in the design was the flow from the dining area to the lawn. “The front of the property saw a dramatic transformation, as a large retaining wall was constructed and then backfilled to create the level family-friendly and useable lawn.” says Graham. The lawn – Sir Walter Soft Leaf Buffalo – was selected to withstand use from play as well as the family pets.

 

With the property located just blocks from Manly beach, coastal exposure was a strong influencer when selecting the plant palette. Other factors also included the family’s request for privacy, as well as planning around an existing large Canary Island Date Palm. Red Tower Ginger, Silver Lady Fern, Lilly Pilly, Silver Spur Flower, Crepe Myrtle and Coastal Banksia were some of the plants selected to form the informal lush coastal garden.

 

Alongside the generous feedback from the Snow family on how thrilled they were with their new space, in 2018 Joanne Green Landscape & Interior also received two Silver awards from the LNA Master Landscapers Association for the design and construction of this landscape:

• Residential Design and Construction over $75,000

• Residential Construction over $150,000.

 

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