Water feature ponds create relaxing garden setting

A collaboration between an architect and a landscape architect produces a house and water feature garden that are perfectly in synch. A wonderful natural garden, complete with several garden ponds and a creek, is the ideal place to relax and enjoy nature.

When George recently decided to tear down his old Mornington home and start again from scratch, a new garden was high on his list of priorities. Engaging respected architect Leo De Jong to design the house, George asked him to suggest a landscape architect.

Leo had previously worked with Soren Inglis from Urban Edge Landscape Architects and thought him the ideal candidate for the job. George quickly agreed: "When Soren sent me some details of his work, including photographs, I was very impressed," he says.

Soren and Leo worked closely on this project, creating a house and landscape that complement each other, while reflecting George's desires for the property. For the garden, George wanted a natural-looking landscape incorporating a water feature pond, some meandering paths and secluded seating.

"I wanted to create an environment that would attract native birds and frogs," says George. "Apart from mentioning some landscapers whose work I admired for them to have an idea of my tastes, it was a broad brief. I trusted their creative capacities to come up with something great."

Soren designed a rear water feature garden with a rock-strewn stream feeding into a tranquil pond. The stream's origin is a cascade that falls out of a cleverly designed rock water feature and into a smaller pond at the top of the slope.

A meandering path with occasional seats placed along the way runs beside the stream, inviting people to explore the spaces within the garden. Timber decking areas provide 'destinations' for the wanderer to stop and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Out the front, the main priority was a low-key, natural-looking entranceway to the house. There was a large existing elm tree that George was keen to keep, but otherwise the planting scheme is made up of native and indigenous plants.

An understated formal element is brought to the space by way of the basalt and wistow pavers. And George loves the effect the carefully designed lighting provides at night. "It's quite stunning," he says.

As for Soren, he is most pleased with the way the house and garden match each other. "This sort of garden wouldn't suit all houses, but contemporary architecture like this is really well suited to this type of landscape," he says.

Native wildlife flock to the property, just as George had hoped, and he enjoys spending time in the landscape experiencing the pleasures of the space. "There's nothing better than enjoying the garden with a book or quietly meditating," he says.

Soren Inglis, from Urban Edge Landscape Architects

What was the design brief for this project?

George was having his old house demolished and a new one built in its place. We were on board right from the beginning, working with the architect. The brief was to create a natural, native garden that would attract native birds and frogs and so on, and that incorporated a pond and secluded seating areas.

Was he specific about elements or features?

He really liked the work of a landscaper named Ellis Stones, who worked with natural materials, so we used that as a guide. And he didn't want a lawn. Once he gave us the brief he had great faith in us, in our ability to interpret his priorities and create something that matched the architecture of the house, and his taste.

Take us through the backyard's design, including the water feature ponds.

The idea was to create a natural, native-looking garden, while providing some different spaces to explore. So there's a path that runs around the pond and 'creek', and seating and decking areas. The main living areas in the house are on the second floor, so we wanted a design that would be interesting to look down upon, as well as to be out in.

And the front yard? How did you go about designing that?

There was one large existing elm tree that George wanted to keep, so we worked around that. Every other plant is native or indigenous. The idea was for that area to be the transition from the road to the front of the house; just a low-maintenance, natural-looking area that complemented the architecture.

What is the most pleasing aspect of this project for you as a designer?

Probably the way the garden suits the look of the house. I think that's really important. The natural landscape blends nicely with the contemporary architecture and there is a seamless transition between inside and out. And the fact that we were able to repay George's faith in us by creating a garden that he enjoys spending time in was very pleasing.

George, the Homeowner

Why did you choose Urban Edge Landscape Architects to design the garden?

The architect who was building my house, Leo De Jong, suggested Soren at Urban Edge. He had worked with him before and was very comfortable with the idea of doing that again. When Soren sent me some details, including photographs, of his previous work, I was very impressed.

What did you ask for in your new garden?

I wanted a landscape that would attract native birds and frogs, with a pond and a path meandering through it, and secluded seating. I told him about a couple of my favourite landscapers and the styles they used, and he kept that in mind as he created the design. In fact, my brief to him really was quite brief!

How much input did you have into the design process?

It's my personal philosophy that you get the best creative efforts and work from people like Soren if you don't intervene. I just believe that they're better at doing their job than I would be, so I'm always happy to delegate or leave it to them. And that's what happened. In this case the result proves that my philosophy works!

Do you have a favourite element of your new garden?

The front yard and entrance to the house, when it is lit up at night, is really quite stunning. And during the day I really enjoy the native garden at the back, with the still and running water feature garden elements and the native birds, including ducks on the water feature pond. There's nothing better than enjoying the space with a book or quietly meditating.

Would you recommend Soren and Urban Edge Landscape Architects to other people?

Absolutely, and I have already. He's a very talented landscape architect and I think one of his great strengths is his communication skills. He's got a very calm, listening approach. He's a gentleman, and I think he extracts maximum outcome from the other people he works with because he relates well to people.