Second Nature

One of the most difficult design issues to resolve in this Remuera garden was the sympathetic harmonising of the different elements of timber, glass and concrete. The garden benefits from the borrowed landscape of St Michael's Church, its glowing red brick forming a stunning contrast to the garden's modernist in situ and exposed concrete bones, just as the house, which was also recently renovated, retained the Arts and Crafts features which contributes to the richness of its interior modern take. The garden's orientation is north west and hence is ideal for entertaining, capturing the sun until late in the day. The current design ensures that full advantage can be taken of the sun. A gradual transition from the house to the garden is accomplished by generous wooden steps from the deck immediately adjacent to the kitchen/living, Concrete as a design element has been incorporated at this point in the form of a pizza oven with a concrete exterior, surrounded by, as a contrast, a polished exposed aggregate bench top. This bench top in turn reflects the exposed aggregate "floating" concrete bridges that link the islands of lawn, surrounded by a "sea" of rain lilies, zepheranthes candida, beautiful in the late summer as a foaming sea of white. All the lawns are retained by in situ concrete which again provides definition, contrast, form and structure to the garden, with a feature "broken" concrete wall providing a tantalising glimpse through from the side garden to the rear. At the front of the house, polished concrete steps appear as if suspended in air, leading to the front door and down to the lower garden, underlit by LED strips at night. The garden is made for entertaining and enjoyment and the designer, Sally McLeay responded well to the brief, providing a garden that is easy to use all year round and providing an extension to the indoor relaxed living space that directly relates to the exterior. The garden was also featured in the Landscaping Magazine and you can see the article here Project manager and construction team Second Nature http://www.secondnature.co.nz/ Designer Sally McCleay