Garden on a Garage
As you can imagine, landscape designer John Happ faced quite a few problems when he was asked to create a garden on top of a concrete slab! The property had already undergone extensive renovations, including the building of new garages. The clients wanted a large entertainment area above the garages, where they could put up a marquee and entertain 150 guests.
Design problems
Unless the slab was properly drained the garages and flat underneath would flood. The property has a hot westerly aspect, which had to be taken into consideration when choosing plants and planning irrigation. The bluestone colour of the original brickwork was difficult to complement. Screening from neighbours was needed along one boundary.
Design solution
Before soil could be brought in and the grass planted a drainage cell (see diagram below) was installed on the slab. Soil depth varied from about 200mm (8″) under the lawn to around 600mm (2′) in the garden beds. John uses his own special soil “recipe” which he adapts to the depth required. The latticework and a garden seat were painted blue, to reflect the colour of the brickwork. Large terracotta pots 1200mm (4′) high and 1200mm (4′) in diameter were craned into place to provide screening from the neighbours. They were filled with the same soil mix used in the garden, and planted with oleanders (Nerium oleander). A system of micro spray jets has been installed to make sure the plants don’t dry out in the heat, and low voltage lighting is used for entertaining at night.
The plants
A row of Camellia sasanqua ‘Setsugekka’ has been underplanted with lantana (Lantana montevidensis). Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) climbs over the pergola and there is also a potted crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica). A sunken garden on the north side of the garage features Dietes bicolor and a line of conifers (Cupressus torulosa).
Contact information
The garden was designed by John Happ, 3rd Dimension Designs, 31 Wentworth Road, Strathfield, NSW, 2135. Phone: (02) 9744 2658. The architects for this project were Andre Porebski and Associates, 97 Rose Street, Chippendale, NSW 2008. Phone: (02) 9310 1234.