Contemporary landscape design on Sydney harbour

How would you choose a landscape designer for this magic spot on Sydney harbour? What the owners of this house did was hold a competition and let the best designer win! Landscape architects ASPECT Studios won the comp and created this striking contemporary design. They began by creating a series of discreet courtyards, linked by a lawn that spans the two residences in the development. A timber deck extends from the house to the pool, with low plantings adjacent to the pool and along the sea wall to maintain ocean views from the house. A ‘sculpture courtyard’ features limestone slabs suspended over a bed of lush planting.

The entry courtyard design consists of a suspended onyx bridge spanning a water feature pool on the basement level below. The bridge is framed by a glass bamboo sculpture to the north, and living giant black bamboo to the south. Uplighting and misting highlights the experience of passing over the deep void, and creates a dramatic and sublime entry experience to the house.

[photography by Brett Boardman]