Mt Eden Courtyard
Location: Mt Eden
Designer: Kerry Spiers - Second Nature
Implementation: Second Nature
Completed: 2018
This award-winning courtyard garden in Mt Eden displays Second Nature's nuanced approach to landscape design. Tasked with transforming the entrance to a heritage masonry villa, the team re-imagined the front terrace through a unique lens that overlays classic undertones with whimsy and visual intrigue.
What seemed like an outdoor space well suited for a classic Mt Eden garden became a more contemporary-style landscape reflecting the client's creative and artistic personality. Aligning the historical characteristics of this home with the client's eclectic tastes was a challenge Second Nature navigated with extensive planning and taking the time to understand their needs.
As an example of exceptional landscape design in Mt Eden, Second Nature won Gold in both the Design and Construction categories at the 2019 Registered Master Landscapers Awards of Distinction. The garden was also featured in NZ Gardner Magazine, Auckland Garden DesignFest 2019, and the Heroic Garden Festival 2018.
Black, White and Pink
Planting for visual warmth was instrumental in embellishing the garden and balancing the bold contrast of the hardscaping features anchored by a black-and-white theme. The need for low maintenance was a key factor when selecting the plants that would fill the space. Foliage contrasts and a strict palette of black, white, green, and rich pink added a contemporary touch to traditional plant species such as Buxus, camellia, hydrangea, and roses. The garden also features a foliage-clad backdrop that used to be a dominant garage wall.
The area was transformed into a large, open courtyard space, enveloped by lines of foliage, which connects the interior and exterior character of the villa’s classic architecture. Multiple ground surface treatments were added to divide the space visually. An oval black and white tiled area became an entrance patio. Adjacent to it, a permeable Stoneset area—designed to address site coverage restrictions—now provides a cosy seating nook, accented with intricate pierced brick details.
Registered Master Landscapers
Second Nature are Registered Master Landscapers, which provides assurance to our clients that our work and business practices have consistently achieved the required best practice and adhere to the Registered Master Landscapers code of conduct.
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