Spring 2021, Shoreham
Arriving on site to meet clients during a wet spring in November 2021, we were greeted by a steep site cut akin to the trenches on the Western front in WWI.
We were engaged by the clients on the builder's recommendation, with building works already underway. Early in the project, the builder and clients discovered an obvious gap in scope. After undertaking the site cut, it became apparent that a 1.8m high solid clay wall—just 2m outside their rear terrace area—was not the ideal outcome everyone had envisaged.
The clients were understandably shocked and upset. They had expected a flat rear yard with views to the existing eucalyptus trees. We walked around the site, checking the extent of the cut, the proximity of existing trees, and access pinch points around the house.
Given the list of consultants they had already engaged for the lengthy town planning and building permit process, the clients were frustrated this issue hadn't been identified or communicated. We reassured them that a landscape solution existed (though we were admittedly a little shocked ourselves), through a design process that included 3D modeling, we could develop a landscape design that would suit their needs.
Design Process
The Design process was tangled but effective.
The Brief was to provide a flat lawn area outside the terrace, create bushland vistas from all main windows, and ensure safe access around the property so the clients could move confidently as they aged.
The landscape design took around 12 months to develop a solution that satisfied all parties. This process involved considering planning constraints and overlays (such as Bushfire, Significant Landscape, and Vegetation Protection), reviewing and integrating civil engineering plans, and re-engaging the project arborist to determine how close we could work to the existing eucalyptus trees while retaining them.
Initially, the clients wanted to remove all the clay and install concrete sleeper retaining walls to maximize the flat lawn area. We disagreed, advising that this would look too harsh and clash with the bushland setting they'd requested. However, the clients were persistent. To maintain the relationship and keep the peace we undertook this design exercise and engaged a structural engineer to design the wall.
After further meetings, site visits and walking the surrounding streets with the clients, we proposed the the softer approach of using locally sourced rocks with terracing to assist in retaining the land. These elements along with native planting would we insisted would harmonise with the existing Grassy Woodland (EVC 175) and significant remnant Eucalyptus pryoriana (Coast Manna Gums).
November 2022
After almost 12 months it was time to engage and Landscaper and start works on site.
From our earliest consultations with the builder, and client given the access challenges on site and the previous Geotechnical Engineers advice there was not going to be a ‘cheap fix’. The boreholes undertaken as part of the building permit, indicated the topsoil and subsoil was highly reactive silty clay soil which is a challenging medium that is notoriously difficult to excavate and costly to export off site.
The client prioritized a swift post-handover transition. After reviewing two comparable quotes, Centred Landscapes were selected as they were able to mobilise quickly breaking ground in early December 2022.
April 2023
The first priority was a privacy buffer along the northern boundary. We specified Acacia melanoxylon (Blackwood) for its rapid growth and deep green foliage. Highly adaptable to Shoreham’s fluctuating wet and dry conditions, these trees provided an instant, soft-textured screen against northern neighbours.
During the removal of 300m³ of soil, the delivery of oversized local boulders prompted a design change. By utilising these large rocks, we steepened the garden batters and eliminated a terrace level, resulting in a significantly larger, more fluid lawn area. Minimal root interference during the NW excavation allowed us to extend lawn even further, maximising the site’s usable footprint.
To manage stagnant surface water, we integrated sub-surface Ag drains into the existing civil infrastructure, ensuring the site remains traversable year-round. We also faced off against the local rabbit population. After an initial overnight grazing of the plant stock, we installed core-flute tree guards to ensure the plants species could reach maturity.
The result is a landscape that anchors the building to the site and blends structural boulders with the natural beauty of the surrounding bushland.
Thanks client’s Susy and Dan, Landscaper Paul and Builder Cam.
