Going Natural–Traditional to Contemporary Garden Transformation

Today’s gardens often reflect the relaxed and informal nature of contemporary life. They’re more naturalistic and wild, less orderly and manicured. Landscape architect Emily Simpson’s transformation of the garden of this art deco house echoes this change. In a shift from traditional to contemporary, layers, texture and softness have been added to the established garden while maintaining its art deco spirit.

The owners engaged Emily to modernise their garden following architecture studio Welsh + Major’s renovation which prioritised aspects to the greenery throughout the house, creating a sense of being surrounded by greenery. They wanted it to feel inviting upon entry and to have spaces all the family could enjoy, including a productive garden.

The existing garden was well established with a formalised layout of buxus hedges framing the driveway, pathways and lawns, and traditional plant species such as camellias, azaleas, magnolia trees and star jasmine populating the rest of the space. “I wanted to make the garden more whimsical and to bring some planting layers in front of the traditional forms of the garden,” says Emily. “We ‘edited’ the buxus hedges to reduce the maintenance and formality. We kept most of the established plants to retain the memory of the garden and introduced more foliage types and textures.”

The front lawn has been reshaped with the curved art deco geometry and framed with layers of planting that subtly build on the curve. A mix of silvery natives, succulents and exotic drought species in front of the established plants creates interest and softness and the feeling of being more natural, even a little wild. “The planting palette also offers different experiences in the varied microclimates of the garden: lush, large foliage textures in the shady corners, and silvery whimsical planting in the sunny areas which encourages pollination,” Emily says. She moved an existing sandstone bench to nestle in the front corner beneath a jacaranda tree that covers the grass with a purple carpet of petals in spring.

Next to the new cantilevered carport, which also curves to echo the rounded form of the house, a permeable paving grid provides a place for the owners to turn their cars and serves as a transition to the entry to the house. “It’s like an outdoor mat upon arrival and is a softer, less formal entry to the house,” Emily says. The paving grid also reduces water runoff and encourages water permeability into the garden.

Concrete slabs with curved ends provide stepping stones between the hardscape and softscape, and are also used to provide an access path down the side of the house. Ground cover between the slabs softens the visual effect, and lush foliage planting provides a vibrant view of greenery through the side windows. At the back of the house, Welsh + Major added a new modern extension that flows out to a covered terrace. Across the grass is a paved sitting area bordered with recycled bricks that include green and white, drawing on the colours of the tennis court behind. “The seating area is a transition between the rear garden and the family tennis court, creating a spot of refuge during the summer and a place to sit in the sun in winter,” says Emily.

Alongside the tennis court is the productive garden where corten steel-raised planters overflow with sweet tomatoes and basil, and passionfruit and sweat peas grow up the tennis court fence. Among the edible planting, there are blueberries and citrus underplanted with a variety of herbs and pollination species.

As a more relaxed, informal and inviting garden, it proved to be a refuge for the family during Covid and they continue to spend a lot of time working in the productive garden. “The clients love growing, eating and cooking with the produce. They get so much food for the family out of the garden,” says Emily.

Inside issue 95 — Grab the issue here.