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THE LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

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ASSOCIATIONOF WA INC.

L SCANDSCAPE

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AUSTRALIA INC.

AUSTRALIAN LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY

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LANDSCAPE QUEENSLAND

INDUSTRIES INC.

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20

AUSTRALIA’S No.1 BEST SELLER

Trend settingWHAT’S IN, WHAT’S OUTWHEN LIVING OUTDOORS

Design definedAUSTRALIAN GARDEN DESIGN:

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE?

20th Edition auh Edi i u

Al fresco entertainingFROM OUTDOOR TVS TOTHE LATEST BARBECUES

Win $6000

WORTH OF SENTRELPOOL FENCING OR

DECK BALUSTRADES

Work of art

Of contemporary design, this garden displays an innovative approach to the use of space

DESIGNER LANDSCAPES

60 | OUTDOOR DESIGN & LIVING

OUTDOOR DESIGN & LIVING | 61

DESIGNER LANDSCAPES

A SWIRL OF STAINLESS STEEL DRAWS THE EYE UP

and over a sculpted swathe of lawn, establishing

an easy flow and a strong sense of connection

between the cosy environs of the outdoor room

nestled next to the house and the tennis court that

claims pride of place at the rear of the property.

The lustrous sculpture supplied by Sculptura,

however, is just one of several visual treats to be

savoured in this deceptively simple garden design by

Nathan Burkett Landscape Design and Construction.

Says Nathan Burkett, “The owners enjoy

entertaining, so we set out to make as much of

the garden as practical as possible. We kept the

rendered retaining walls to a comfortable sitting

height, avoided the use of steps where we could

and ensured the level changes were seamless.

“Given the price of real estate these days,

efficient and creative use of space throughout

a property often translates to dollars when the

property is passed on to a new owner. Appropriate

use of space should always be a key design

principle, but this does not mean that all space

should be trafficable or put to some practical use —

we need habitat for our own wellbeing. Balance is

the key.”

Achieving balance was critical to the success of

this design, in more ways than one. The existing

site was plagued with awkward level changes.

Another challenge was the eastern boundary of the

property, which was surrounded by a two-metre-

wide concrete footing and afforded virtually no

planting depth to screen the boundary fencing.

“My solution was to lift the beds up from

ground level and maintain the soft yet structured

characteristic of the site with solid curved walls

projecting out of the ground and returning back into

the ground,” explains Nathan. “The curved walls

became a key feature of the garden, drawing one’s

eye from the house and alfresco dining area up to

the level of the tennis court.”

Similarly, Nathan used the contours of the site to

project the pool out of the ground, allowing it to fit

seamlessly into the overall design.

From the granite paving to the merbau timber

decking supplied by Chippy’s Outdoor, the emphasis

was on high-quality materials. Choosing reputable

suppliers is essential to a successful outcome, which

is why Chippy’s Outdoor, a company that stocks

only the best-quality timber decking and screening

products, is one of Nathan’s preferred suppliers.

For ambience, there is a well-considered lighting

scheme, which includes subtle uplighting of trees.

To lend the garden a sense of subtle drama,

massed low-level plantings, including Arthropodium

‘White Knight’ and Liriope ‘Evergreen Giant’, create

a carpeting effect that follows the undulation of

the garden beds. Adding interest and pronounced

vertical elements, the pleached, white-trunked

Ficus hillii and the deciduous ornamental pear Pyrus

‘Capital’ stand like sculptures in the garden.

“My philosophy on design is simple,” says

Nathan. “You have to be able to live and breathe in

it and it has to be a part of who you are. With this

in mind, I approach each project with the primary

objective of interpreting the client’s needs and

integrating this within the space.”

From the earliest design stages to final

construction, Nathan remains in close personal

contact with clients and it is this commitment

that has helped Nathan Burkett Landscape Design

and Construction to forge an enviable reputation

for both design and construction. Nathan Burkett

Landscape Design and Construction also boasts

a close-knit team of hand-picked, highly skilled

professionals including qualified architects,

carpenters, builders, electricians, plumbers, lighting

consultants and pool specialists. Project detailsLandscape design and construction by Nathan Burkett Landscape Design and Construction Phone (03) 9015 7791 Mobile 0411 304 641 Email info@nathanburkett.com.au Website www.nathanburkett.com.au Stainless-steel sculpture by Sculptura Phone (03) 9824 5555 Timber decking supplied by Chippy’s Outdoor Phone (03) 9879 4296 Pool construction by Mcnamara Phone (03) 9315 1123 Photography by Andrew Ashton

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DESIGNER LANDSCAPES