FLETCHER
LOCATION
Hawthorn East
COUNTRY
Wurundjeri
CONSTRUCTION
Michael Rochelle Landscapes
Behind this delightful weatherboard cottage lurked a courtyard garden that would make horticulturists wilfully embrace death: eye-level yuccas aggressively greeting visitors, a mossy plastic lawn completing the suburban dystopia.
The space held potential beneath its problematic veneer. My client needed somewhere to actually live, not just subsist in retirement. With overlooking neighbours and harsh western sun, the courtyard felt more like a zoo than a refuge. This redesign creates zones that work with daily rhythms - morning coffee protected from prying eyes, afternoon drinks shaded from the worst heat.
A basalt revet elevates a specimen Japanese Maple, its canopy filtering the harsh western sun whilst screening neighbouring units. The elevated position transforms what was once a limitation into the garden's focal point. Dahlia imperialis provides winter screening when deciduous species retreat, while mixed grasses introduce movement and dance in the afternoon light.
Locally-sourced basalt connects the design to place. The material choice speaks to authenticity over fashion - this garden grows from its context rather than fighting it. More than cosmetic intervention, this courtyard demonstrates how thoughtful design creates genuine refuge in dense urban living.