Italianate Courtyard
Con Bilionis loves Italy and everything Italian, so he asked landscape designer Paul Bangay to transform his featureless courtyard into a fabulous Romanesque entertaining area. When talking about design in a restricted space, Paul emphasised the importance of simplicity. He recommends using only a few features in a small courtyard, but overscaling them for added drama.
Design features
The terracotta pavers used in the courtyard match those in adjacent rooms in the house, giving a great feeling of space and extending the indoor areas outside. The Italianate fountain is the main focus for the garden and house. It is rendered brick inset with marble. The three antique lead dolphins are English eighteenth century fittings. Large Spanish oil jars are placed in each corner, cushioned by box hedging (Buxus sempervirens). The planting is simple, with only three plant species used. A tall lilly pilly hedge (Acmena smithii) each side of the fountain disguises the boundary wall. There are two tiers of clipped box (B. sempervirens), and a wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) has been trained around the windows of the house. A large, electrically operated canvas awning shelters the dining area from the elements.
Further information
Paul Bangay is a designer of stylish gardens. He is based in Melbourne, and has recently undertaken commissions in New York and London. Phone: (03) 9521 1599.
The Spanish oil jars featured in the courtyard have been restored and are available from some antique shops.
Further reading
The Boxed Garden – Designs for Small Spaces by Paul Bangay, and The Defined Garden by Paul Bangay and Simon Griffiths.
Both books are published by Penguin, and are available from Florilegium in Sydney. Phone: (02) 9571 8222.