Coogee Common Seedesign Studio

Aboriginal Nation

Whadjuk Nyoongar

Location

Coogee, Western Australia

Client

FJM Property and Things in Common (joint venture)

Jury comment

Coogee Common is a productive food garden established to provide fresh supplies for the new bar and restaurant of the historic Coogee Hotel. However, the design goes beyond this purpose to serve the local community as an attractive destination garden that revives the relevance of the hotel within the neighbourhood.

A thoughtful, practical design resolution allows budget to be spent where it matters. The sloped site is terraced to maximize yield, and salvaged mature fruit trees and vines have been brought in as windbreaks to mitigate the coastal site conditions. The grounds provide an attractive backdrop to the hotel, with strong visual connections into the landscape.

The result is a fruitful landscape that serves as a valuable demonstration garden and showcases possibilities for urban agriculture in communities and neighbourhoods across Australia. Design practice Seedesign Studio Architect Spaceagency Architects Horticulturalist Harry Wykman Design Services Landscape contractor Concept Origin Project manager FJM Property Photographer Douglas Mark Black