Small space design excites us, as there is nowhere to hide. Every detail counts and this courtyard garden in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs is a shining example of that. The design did not need to be overly complex and its beauty is in its simplicity.

A light and textural material palette of strip-finished concrete, brick and timber provides the structure. The skill of the trades, attention to details and execution of the construction was essential to the project’s success. Subtle level changes were exploited to delineate spaces and create seating, cooking and entertaining opportunities. Curves were introduced into the concrete to provide a break from the straight lines that dominate the brick and timber.

Topiary and architectural plantings of the Japanese Black Pine, Buxus and Agave are offset with more relaxed cascading and succulent species. The inherent playfulness seen in the curves and cascading plants offers a sense of balance and relief from the more structured and formal elements. A mere 50m2 courtyard that provides so much amenity.

Scope

Landscape Architecture

Construction

Horticulture

Year 2019

Location Queens Park, NSW

Photography Natalie Hunfalvay