The Landscapedesign.co.nz Exhibition Garden

Design Brief - Rhythm and Chaos – a garden for an eccentric headstrong couple

Purpose

This garden is a space to entertain, refresh and enjoy the good company of friends over an extended summer season for this eccentric couple. They have requested an outdoor entertainment pavilion with a simple relaxed feel and want the planting to contradict both formal and minimalist gardens they have enjoyed in the past. They are passionate about art and object and they love a good debate with friends. They would like strong contrasting colours, species and texture. It must have a functional yet simple outdoor kitchen, formal and informal entertaining space. Hugo: “It can be kind of naïve in a certain way; put some plants together that you would not normally use, it’s got to be different, a contradiction, but it must work, kind of like my shirt” (he is wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt with every colour under the sun) Daphne: “I don’t want a fussy building architecturally just something simple but substantial, the garden is the important feature, oh and I love the view of the Totatra to the east”.

Structure and space

The significant structure in this garden is the pavilion. This site can be viewed for several kilometres up the valley, I have chosen lines in keeping with the special character of this rural setting. Both east and west faces are glazed to capture the bold foreground planting and views beyond.

The simple boundary fence borders a steep cliff and prevents visitors straying; however there is access to a track zig zagging down the valley leading to their favourite swimming hole on the river.

The stand of Totara on the south face shelters the structure and garden form the prevailing wind. Dappled shade is created by the slatted effect of the pergola and offers protection from passing showers and the sun, extending its seasonal use.

The soil is predominantly clay on the building platform. Beds are nourished with appropriate compost sand and stone to assist drainage. Surrounding sites have rich pockets of hummus beneath established bush.

Hardscape

The central foreground focus is a glass sculpture acknowledging the vital importance and qualities of water in forming the surrounding valleys, the formative force within organic material essential for life.

The sculptural conglomerate walls create movement from the intense colourful planting towards the calming view of bush to the east.

Selected art by Dick Frizzell and master sculptor Johnny Turner can be enjoyed within the pavilion. The kairuru marble sculpture is a vessel. The ribs refer not only to the vessels that brought our ancestors here but the ribs of ancestors themselves. The marble is recycled from Maritime House in Wellington which oversaw shipping for 100 years. It symbolises our courage to journey for a better life – 6 months in a leaky boat.

The raised kitchen garden offers a fist full of herbs to be stuffed into fresh trout from the river and chop chop for pizza toppings in the prototype gas pizza oven.

Plantscape

We have chosen plants that will appeal to the clients sense of adventure, their love of debate, art, eccentricity and contrast in taste. Where possible I have used plants with stories provoke intrigue about the plant name and its background fitting with the purpose of entertainment without compromising the playful colour effects.

• Agapanthus ‘gold strike’- New: on limited release. Debate: pre-conceptions, sterile.
• Aloe barberae - A kind of Salvadore Dali habit. Theses specimens have been sourced from poor clay soil to simulate neglect – but beauty in perseverance with the deep red and orange colours indicating the need of nourishment. Similarly Echivera ‘Perle Von Numberg”  is planted in a stressed condition – as the clients unwind and refresh in this space so will these plants.
• Cordyline ‘pink champagne’ - New. On limited release. Purely native, a sense of celebration never goes amiss.
• Cordyline renegade - New. A sexy black number, off the shoulder with a fragrant vanilla corsage. Dance: deep purple.
• Helleborus ‘ivory prince’ - New. To be released in march and set to be a landscapers favourite. **Likes full sun. The blooms are well presented ivory-white in colour gradually turn pink, then age to green.
• Yukka contradiction - New. Bright golden yellow, variegated and lethal. Like a loaded comment at the dining table or a wolf in lambs clothing this sharp dresser adorns itself with beautiful white bell shaped flowers in summer. Winter foliage is flushed with pink.