Designer Jim Fogarty faced several challenges when called in to make over a small narrow courtyard. As well as doing away with the lawn and creating some usable space, the owners instructed Jim to screen the large block of flats next door, and to do something with the big imposing walls, including an ugly sleeper retaining wall. They were open to the idea of using trompe l’oeil as a focus point, but they wanted a soft and colourful garden style, rather than a formal one.
Design solution
Trompe l’oeil:
The existing rough bagged and painted wall was unsuitable as a canvas for the trompe l’oeil. Dyna bolts were used to fix timber battens to the wall, and Harditex sheets were attached to the battens and then rendered. Two glass reinforced cement pilasters to frame the fantasy gateway were mushroom bolted and glued to the wall, and 25mm (1″) box steel arches were custom made and placed in position. The trompe l’oeil, by F & J Aesthetics, is a painting of an entrance to another garden, so at first glance the property appears much bigger. To make the illusion seem even more convincing, paving and plants in the real courtyard are repeated in the painting. The finishing touch is a real key in the gate.
Sleeper retaining walls:
These were covered with Harditex sheets and then capped with flagstones.
Screen:
A lattice extension to the existing wall was backed with plywood, so the flats were no longer visible, but the lattice frontage reduced the enclosed effect. Trees were planted to provide more privacy in the future.
Plants:
The clients wanted a very wild overgrown garden, rather than the traditional formal courtyard with everything clipped and trimmed. Jim’s “Italian Gardenesque” planting theme includes many blue, blue/mauve, a hint of pink and white flowers, as well as fruiting plants like orange, lemon, dwarf peach, dwarf nectarines and strawberries. Climbers are used to soften the walls, including clematis, Chinese star jasmine and roses.
Contact information:
James Fogarty Landscape Design, 20 Bass Street, Flinders, VIC, 3929
Phone: (03) 9427 0489. Mobile: 0419 571 856
F & J Aesthetics, 29 Newton St, Surrey Hills, VIC, 3127
Phone: (03) 9890 9679. Mobile: 0411 149 009