The house Frank Macchia designed for Rod and Sue Thomas is powerful, dominating and unconventional. The building covers 60% of the block, with about one third of the house surrounded by a moat.

Landscape designer, Jim Fogarty, didn’t feel that this was a space for creating a real garden theme or environment. Instead, he aimed for a minimalist, natural garden to complement the architecture.

Dare to be different!

Jim’s adventurous planting scheme was inspired by the modern, muted colours of the house - brown, silver, charcoal grey and earthy Australian colours. There are no brightly coloured plants, and only a hint of green from the licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare) when it’s wet. This is a low maintenance garden and the plants are drought-tolerant.

The aubergine colour on the walls of the house is reflected in an informal hedge of Agonis flexuosa ‘After Dark’. This beautiful native tree has a soft, pendulous habit with drooping, dark burgundy foliage. This form of agonis only grows to around 5m (15’) and does not require much water.

Jim said that it was challenging working with so much water in the garden. The big issue was reflection, and while he didn’t want to compete with that, the house is very angular and so it was good to achieve some subtle movement and personality. Miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis) was chosen as a feature plant behind the water. This beautiful ornamental grass forms upright clumps and produces fluffy flowerheads in late summer and autumn.

Further information

Frank Macchia, Architect
Phone: 0754 740 433
Web: www.frankmacchia.com

Jim Fogarty, Landscape Designer
Phone: 1300 888 916
Web: www.jimfogartydesign.com.au
See the August issue of the Burke’s Backyard Magazine for Jim’s tips on creating a ‘green-free’ garden.

Copyright CTC Productions 2003