This luxuriant Mediterranean-style garden offers an immersive experience
Landscape of the Year Awards Entrant NSW
A coastal garden of modern Mediterranean style, it may be of modest proportions but it is undeniably big on charisma. Ziggy Kabbout, director of Eloquent Landscapes, was entrusted with bringing the Myles Baldwin-designed garden to life, ensuring it looked well-established from the off and enhancing the sense of space.
“The garden is designed as a framed courtyard anchored by strong structural trees and layered planting. As you step out from the house, the space opens around the pool and then subtly narrows through the centre before expanding again towards the rear entertaining area,” says Ziggy.
“This sequence of compression and release fashions distinct zones and helps to make the garden feel much larger than its actual footprint, while natural stone paving and architectural planting give the space a contemporary Mediterranean character.”
Adjoining the house, the pool courtyard is a relaxed lounging area with sunbeds positioned to capture garden views. Beyond this, the space opens into an entertaining zone featuring a built-in, off-form concrete outdoor kitchen with a Wolf barbecue, a bar fridge, and bespoke stainless-steel ice box, allowing the area to function as a true extension of the indoor kitchen.
Towards the rear of the space, an intimate dining terrace is framed by lush planting and feature trees, creating a private setting for alfresco meals. An outdoor television, housed within a custom aluminium stand, allows the space to double as an outdoor lounge area for watching sports or movies.
The considered planting palette blends Mediterranean and subtropical species to create a luxuriant yet structured garden perfectly suited to the Sydney climate. The feature trees, including olives (Olea europea) and Senegal date palms (Phoenix reclinata), provide height, strong architectural form, and a canopy of leafy, filtered shade. Beneath this, layered plantings of shrubs such as silverberry (Elaeagnus x ebbingei) create enclosure, privacy, and a soft, green backdrop .
Tropical foliage plants and textural perennials introduce larger leaf forms that contrast beautifully with the finer foliage of the trees, while at ground level, hardy species such as creeping rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis prostratus) soften hard edges and knit the garden together.
The main challenge was site access. “The backyard could only be reached via a narrow side passage, which made moving machinery and materials difficult,” explains Ziggy. “Also, the property was located on a one-way street directly opposite a school, creating several additional logistical challenges. Through careful planning, staged construction, and close coordination with all parties, we were able to overcome the constraints to deliver the project without compromising the design intent.
“This project demonstrates how you can take a relatively compact garden and transform it into a series of outdoor living spaces that feel both generous and immersive,” he adds. “Its success lies in the balance between thoughtful design and practical construction, resulting in a space that feels timeless and inviting.”
For more information
Eloquent Landscapes
Mobile 0401 271 722
Email info@eloquentlandscapes.com.au
