The Secret Garden

This lush outdoor space provides an enticing escape from the stresses of modern life.

- Kylie Baracz

A modern home needs an equally modern garden — or does it? The owners of this architectural masterpiece in Toorak, Melbourne, were looking for a garden with a lush and diverse planting palette to soften, yet complement, the strong structural lines and off-form concrete of their expansive home.

When designing their dream outdoor space, the owners and their architects wanted to create “a poetic garden of structured chaos”. They hired landscape architects T.C.L (Taylor Cullity Lethlean) to achieve this d esign feat.

“That notion was really wonderful,” says Lisa Howard, director of T.C.L. “We were excited to explore what that meant from an elemental design perspective, and also from a species selection perspective.”

As the outside space was surrounded by neighbouring tennis courts, privacy for the family, both inside the home and out, was a must. “The front of the garden was about the entry experience and creating a sense of discovering a secret, immersive and lush environment, while also having seclusion and privacy from the street,” explains Lisa.

The garden needed to cater for the owners’ growing children, so T.C.L. incorporated spaces for them to explore, play, and also retreat to as they got older. This was achieved by providing distinct areas for both active and reflective moments.