This project was designed by STEM Landscape Architecture & Design and constructed by us for a busy young family with active teenage boys. The brief called for a welcoming front garden, strong visual and physical connections between front and rear yards, and outdoor spaces that could support both everyday family life and high-energy recreation.

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The sloping site was carefully resolved through smart, sculptural retaining, using round concrete planters to create productive vegetable, herb and flower gardens, paired with bluestone pitcher steps to manage level changes. These continue through to the backyard, creating cohesion across the site and guiding movement seamlessly from front to rear. The front yard was designed to feel open and inviting, drawing visitors naturally toward the home.

 

A key focus of the build was working with what was already established. Existing elements were retained and protected throughout construction, including a mature Grevillea robusta in the backyard, citrus and feijoa trees, front entrance paving (repaired and reinstated), and existing rock wall garden beds. These elements anchor the new landscape, adding maturity and continuity to the finished space.

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New features include a grey porphyry crazy-paved entertaining area and pathways (Yarrabee Stone & Slate), stone steppers set into crushed granite paths, basalt rock mulched garden beds, and new buffalo lawn to both front and rear yards. At the rear, a custom basketball court was constructed on a concrete slab we prepared, finished with a shock-absorbent surface by Dreamcourts - perfectly suited to the family’s love of the game. The project was completed with a new exposed aggregate driveway (GWW Hometech from Mentone Premix).

 

Despite tight rear access constraints, careful planning (including coordinated access via a neighbouring property) allowed the project to progress Native planting throughout the garden was designed, sourced and installed by the STEM Landscape Architecture & Design team, completing a functional, resilient and family-focused landscape.