In The Elements

An alfresco firepit and pond bring together nature’s most powerful elements to create a striking Sydney garden

- Alice Griffin

Most people think they’re doing their bit for the environment by participating in the local neighbourhood working bee and opting for tap water instead of bottled. For those with both the means and the inclination, however, giving back to Mother Nature can be far bigger than that — as big as a backyard, even. This was the case for a young family on Sydney’s north shore who sought a sustainable design solution to make the most of the outdoor space surrounding their Federationstyle home designed by Utz-Sanby Architects. The homeowners asked landscape design firm Spirit Level Designs to turn their eco-friendly aspirations into an inventive working garden.

For their “Willoughby Garden”, the homeowners wanted to create spaces that would both support and nurture their family, but also give back to the environment where possible. The design had to consider the garden’s two key sections — the front and backyards — both of which came with their own criteria.

The front garden, between the house and the street, was in need of attention and the homeowners wanted to make greater use of it. A contemporary cottage-style garden was devised to complement the Federation home’s traditional facade, and foliage — by way of crepe myrtle trees and Russian olive hedges — was introduced to provide screening for privacy. Plants were carefully selected for their low maintenance, variety and robustness in the heat. A mixture of tough grey-greens, including Dymondia and the everlasting flower (Helichrysum), were broken up by deeper greens such as Raphiolepis and silverberry (Elaeagnus).