Project 3: Compact Strata Garden
Project Overview:
This project is in a suburban strata community with charming, small homes that are close to one another.
The client wanted to transform their small yard into a lawn-free, peaceful outdoor space. With privacy as a main concern, the goal was to design a secluded area while enhancing views from inside the home.
Main Goals:
- Maximize privacy for the deck and outdoor area
- Eliminate the need for lawn maintenance
- Enhance the views from inside the house by creating unique focal points in the landscape.
Main Challenges:
- Clay soil required careful plant selection
- Limited space for planting
- Proximity to neighbours.
Client Vision & Goals:
The client wanted a beautiful, tranquil outdoor space that offered privacy without isolating them from the community. They also wanted to avoid lawn mowing. They wanted support implementing a design plan that they had commissioned from another firm.
Landscaper’s Approach:
The landscaper was hired to implement and further customize the client’s pre-existing design plan, working in phases over several years to ensure the project was manageable and within the client’s budget.
Key strategies included:
- Maximizing privacy through thoughtful planting without creating a closed-off feeling
- Designing each planting area to offer distinct views from each window in the home
- Selecting plants that both matched the client’s desired aesthetic while also being well-suited to the clay soil.
Project Outcome:
The result is a private outdoor area that balances the client’s desire for privacy, while still feeling part of the community. The client is delighted with the unique views from inside their home that flourish and bloom with the seasons.
The project was completed gradually over four years, allowing for personal touches and adjustments along the way.
