I
nsubtropicalBrisbane,theaveragetoptemperatureinthetwo
coldestmonthsoftheyear–JuneandJuly–isabalmytwenty
degreesCelsius.Soifyou’reembarkingonarenovation,itmakes
perfect sense to integrate your interior and exterior spaces as
tightly as possible, particularly if you have a large family and space
is in demand.
This is exactly the thinking that underpins the landscape
designatBungalowGardenRoomsbyMyersEllyettandDanYoung
LandscapeArchitect,intheinnersuburbofPaddington.Thedesign
deftly negotiates an architecturally significant 1960s cream brick
housetoprovideaseriesofengaging“gardenrooms”thataugment
thefamily’severydaylivingspace.Setatoparise,thehouse and
garden enjoy magnificent views in almost every direction.
“Theclientshavefourboys,andoneofthekeycomponentswas
togivethemapoolsothatattheendofthedaytheycouldalljump
in there, wear themselves out, have a shower outdoors, then go and
getreadyforbed,”explainsJadeMyers,co-directorofMyersEllyett.
While the architects were initially engaged to design a deck
aroundapool,theproject’sscopequicklygrewtoincludeanoutdoor
shower area, two new pergola structures – one above the entry
courtyardandtheotherabovethedeckandloungebesidethepool
- and an incredibly detailed planting response that stitches together
the various elements into a coherent whole.
Garden plan 1:250
Garden section 1:250
1 Gatehouse
2 Entry courtyard
3 Pool
4 Pool lounge
5 Lawn
6 Existing house
Thepropertyisessentiallyawalledcompound:amasonrywall
abouttwometreshighrunsthelengthofthestreetfrontageand
thetopofasteepslopeonthenorthernboundary.Whilethewall
affordsprivacyfromthestreet,alotofthegardenareastillsuffered
overlookingissuesfromathree-storeyblockofflatsacrossthe
road. Responding to this concern, the architects designed a simple
but effective black timber arbour above the entry courtyard. Deep
timberslats,placedabouthalfametreapart,runperpendicular
to the neighbouring building – they let in plenty of light, yet block
diagonal views into the courtyard and house.
Landscape architect Dan Young explains that the planting in the
entrycourtyardcontrastsshadesofgreyandgreenandhighlights
variousfoliagetextures.Intheshadierzonesthedark,largeleaf
forms ofPhilodendron‘Congo Rojo’ contrast against the bright,
delicate foliage of maidenhair fern (Adiantum aethiopicum), and in
the brighter areas, kangaroo vine (Cissus antarctica) creeps between
02 The black aluminium
pool fence marks the
threshold between two
distinctly different spaces
- one enclosed and the
other open to the sky.
03 The pool area provides
thefamilyofsixwith
an extra living area –
complete with a pool
lounge and outdoor
shower.
0
3
2
1
4
6
5
5 m
