This East Hawthorn garden is three years old. Rick Eckersley’s design enhances the architecture of the Victorian residence and also provides a backdrop for the family’s lifestyle. Rick describes the garden style as one that reflects Australia’s multiculturalism. It has an overall English feel to tie in with the house, overlaid with Islamic and Asian influences. The front garden is formal, but the backyard is a place where the family can relax and unwind.
Front garden
Muted grey and green colours make this area very restful, with a softness that is unusual in modern garden design. The main focal point from the front door is an overscaled, theatrical water feature, with water tumbling down over a backdrop of pebbles past a rust coloured, handmade fish. The west facing flower garden is planted with roses bordered by box hedges (Buxus sempervirens) to delineate shapes and add interest. Groundcovers are used where possible to save weeding. The main axis from the house leads the eye across a large pond with a statue and water lilies, surrounded by paving inlaid with pebbles. Behind the pond is a vase-shaped, rusty urn planted with succulents. Rick describes this as a ‘stroller’s garden’, which you can wander through and pick some roses, or just enjoy the sun, perfume and ambience.
Rear garden
The rear garden is informal and spacious, with a sweeping lawn and plenty of room for the kids to run and play. Rick said that in time, it will have a woodland feel. The back of the house opens up onto a large deck and entertaining area, with an outdoor setting for alfresco dining.
Think outside the square
Even though Australia’s landscape designers are among the best in the world, particularly in terms of small gardens, their clients are still very conservative. Don and Rick urged people to “think outside the square” when it comes to garden design. If your landscape designer comes up with ideas that are a little too confronting, try to compromise as much as you can and back the designer’s judgement.
Contact information
Rick Eckersley Eckersley Garden Architecture 03 9421 5537 [email protected] www.e-ga.com.au