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At this South Yarra renovation, it’s clear the garden wasn’t an afterthought.
When the owners first moved in, the Victorian had a formal character outdoors, with structured borders framed by Magnolia trees, a central water fountain, and an old garage in the backyard draped with English ivy.
But after transforming the house with architects Pleysier Perkins, the clients engaged Saint Remy to create as many moments of connection to the garden as possible.
‘Our clients lead busy lives, working in the medical profession and travelling often, so it was important to create a garden they could enjoy more than maintain,’ Saint Remy principal designer Seam Lam says.
‘The brief was grounded in a simple idea: to feel surrounded by the garden. While they appreciated a sense of order, they were drawn to the idea of the planting taking precedence and softening the built form around it — music to our ears.’
In the front yard, a mix of evergreens and Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Seiryu’ (lace-leaf maples) anchors the calming arrival gardens. Ligularia reniformis (tractor seat plant) offers strappy greenery, while groundcovers surround the bluestone steppers leading to the tiled verandah.
The landscaping also took careful consideration of the views from inside the home, as a shady garden nook provides a quiet outlook for the kitchen and dining room.
Meanwhile, the rear courtyard shifts towards a more relaxed and seasonal composition, inspired by the contemporary lines of the extension.
Perennials like Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Autumn Joy’ (stonecrop) and Arthropodium cirratum (New Zealand rock lily) provide vibrant blooms in the warmer seasons, as dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows frame uninterrupted views of the project’s most outside-the-box element: a surprisingly abundant green roof above the new garage.
Positioned in view from the top-level bedroom, the rooftop presented an opportunity to extend the garden without increasing the building footprint.
Restricted by the very shallow soil profile and full exposure to the elements, the plant selection embraces adaptable, hardy perennial grasses. Dichelachne crinita (longhair plume grass) and Rytidosperma caespitosum (wallaby grass) offer fullness and fluffy texture, against succulents like Sedum mexicanum ‘Gold Mound’ (Mexican stonecrop) and pops of reds, purples, and earthy browns.
Seam says the roof was conceived as a living artwork, while colourful planters from Tait gave the clients a dedicated space for growing herbs and vegetables.
‘It’s been a joy to see the garden evolve with them — especially the regular harvests of cherry tomatoes finding their way into everyday meals,’ she adds.
‘Our favourite part, though, is the roof garden. As you step up into it, you’re met with a soft perennial landscape, with glimpses out to the city skyline. It feels elevated in every sense. A place to pause, sit and take it all in.’
