alfresco mission garden, tailor-made for entertaining as well as quieter moments

European and local influences mingle to spectacular effect in this inviting Sydney

Awed by this handsome Spanish-Revival house on Sydney’s north shore, landscape designer Peter Fudge embarked on a Spanish mission of his own when he created its generous garden. What better way to complement the classic 1920s architecture than with a hacienda-style pergola that would eventually become the focal point?

The existing entertaining area off the side of the house was almost non-existent, explains Phil Antcliff of Fifth Season Landscapes, who brought Peter’s design to life. “A large section of paving with a portable barbecue was all the clients had in the way of outdoor entertaining and, with no shade trees or structures in this area, it was almost uninhabitable in summer.” This would become the location for the new pergola, complete with sandstone pillars and weathered hardwood beams and rafters. With its European ambience and massive outdoor kitchen, it has become an impressive entertaining hub.

“When we bought the house in 2009, we fell in love with its unique architecture, its craftsmanship, its arched front portico and its history,” says the owner. But the dowdy, uninspired garden didn’t reflect the grandeur of the house and functioned very poorly. As well as lacking outdoor entertaining areas – expected with a house of this size – it had little sense of arrival. “Once you entered the property, there was patchy grass and a narrow stone path leading past the pool to the front door,” says Phil.

It was 2015 when Peter and Phil were hired to revitalise the 1440-square-metre grounds. “With four children [now aged from seven to 21], we wanted to create spaces in the garden and around the pool where they could relax with friends and kick a ball,” says the owner. “It was also important for us to have a large outdoor area where we could gather as a family and entertain. So the design had to offer a sense of arrival as well as privacy and seclusion from the busy road beyond. And because we live much of the year in Hong Kong, it had to be low-maintenance.”

Peter divided the garden into a series of outdoor rooms, providing spaces for a range of activities, including entertaining, play and quiet contemplation. “My designs are bold and eyecatching yet simple, restrained and organic,” he says. He also likes the grand gesture, such as the pergola here, while embracing natural products like sandstone, gravel and timber. Apart from the hacienda, there is a fire pit on one side of the pool and a generous lawn on the other. The main access is now via a wide path, with strategic pauses to take in the pool, fire pit and lush plantings.

“The garden had to offer a sense of arrival as well as privacy and seclusion from the busy road beyond” OWNER

“We wanted a large outdoor pergola area where we could gather as a family and entertain” OWNER

Picking up the rustic theme, the garden includes bleached recycled timbers, rusted-steel retaining walls and an adobe-like rendered front fence. By contrast, smart sandstone pavers throughout lend a classic, timeless touch. “I really like the way the old-world feeling pervading from the Mediterranean-style house forms a conspicuous contrast to the new elements, such as the steel walls,” says Peter.

The lack of existing trees and plants presented opportunities for a whole new planting scheme. Peter is drawn to natives and exotics that thrive in our dry climate, and he chose hardy trees, shrubs and grasses offering rich textural and tonal variety as well as fuss-free maintenance. His feature-tree line-up consists of olive ( Olea europaea ‘St Helena’) and pear ( Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’), while lilly pilly ( Acmena ‘Sublime’) lines the boundaries, offering privacy and muffling traffic noise.

Mid-level shrubs planted for form and texture include French hydrangea ( Hydrangea macrophylla), French lavender ( Lavandula

dentata), mock orange ( Murraya paniculata) and rosemary

( Rosmarinus officinalis), while Japanese box ( Buxus microphylla), pruned neatly into balls, is dotted throughout, lending an air of formality. Seasonal colour and change comes with beds of glorious pink Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, dwarf maiden grass

( Miscanthus sinensis ‘Yaku Jima’), which changes from silver to tan according to the seasons, and drought-tolerant Pennisetum

alopecuroides ‘Nafray’. Similarly, the two lawns were planted in Zoysia, chosen for its fine leaf, drought-resistance and hardiness. Now the garden ticks all the boxes for the owner, starting at the front gate. “I love the path as it winds down to the house past the olive and pear trees,” she says. Meanwhile, the pergola gets plenty of use as a gathering point for her family and friends. “My husband loves to cook, so we often have barbecues or feast on one of his homemade gourmet pizzas from the pizza oven.

It’s a great space to reconnect as a family.”

But the garden also offers opportunities for me-time. “I love sitting on the portico at dusk and looking out over the garden and the vista of trees,” adds the owner. “It’s very peaceful and, when the lights are on and illuminating the plants, it’s magical.”

Fifth Season Landscapes is based in Chatswood, NSW; 5thseason.com.au

“I really like how the old-world feeling from the Mediterranean-style house forms a conspicuous contrast to new garden elements such as the rusted steel walls” PETER FUDGE, LANDSCAPE DESIGNER

Rear aspect (both pages) Pear trees provide height and seasonal colour. They’re underplanted with Japanese box topiary that was shaped on site. Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ (opposite) echoes the home’s peach-pink exterior.

Pergola In the Spanishinspired design, solid timber beams sit atop piers clad in Newport Random Ashlar stone from Eco Outdoor. Trailing Boston ivy softens its lines and lilly pilly provides hedging beyond the pear trees. Table, Domo. Cane dining chairs, Fantastic Furniture.

Outdoor kitchen (both pages) A wood-fired Euro Appliances pizza oven from The BBQ Store has made catering easy. The sandstone pavers are from Gosford Quarries. All the rendered walls are painted Piliga Murowash, a flat, streakfree finish from Murobond.

Fire pit Custom seats made of recycled wharf beams from Ironwood Australia and naturally rusted steel surround the Angelina bowl by Robert Plumb. Pool area (opposite top) Miscanthus grass and buxus line the path to the water. Burleigh day beds from Eco Outdoor. Wall detail (opposite bottom) Steel retaining walls feature at the side of the house.