Open Borders

By using plants instead of fences to define their property, this couple ended up with lush green spaces and a sense of privacy – all on a small section in urban Auckland.

- Carol Bucknell

Borrowing views of the surrounding landscape is an age-old design trick traditionally used in Japanese gardens that is now a feature of many contemporary outdoor spaces. The idea is to incorporate views of neighbouring features, such as beautiful trees, a mountain or beach, into the garden design, making it feel larger and, of course, more interesting. Unattractive features are cleverly screened out.

In Marianne and Terry Kayes’ Mt Eden garden, this technique has been used so successfully the outdoor spaces feel more like part of a country garden than an inner-city Auckland plot. Rather than boundary fences, strategically placed planting has been used for screening, allowing the garden to feel as if it extends well past its borders.

“This garden was about engaging with the mature trees beyond the property while screening out neighbouring houses,” explains landscape designer Xanthe White of Xanthe White Design (XWD). “We wanted to create privacy and intimacy, but without putting in fences that would cut the garden short visually.”

The front yard is unfenced, too, allowing the newly built home to sit comfortably alongside its heritage neighbours. “We were very keen to keep a connection to the street,” says Marianne. “This also affected the brief for the house design – tall cedar panel windows on the street side allow a view right through part of the house to the rear garden (and vice versa), which we love.”

THE SITE

The recently retired couple bought their 506-square-metre property in late 2014. An old cottage on the site proved unworkable so it was removed and replaced with a new three-bedroom home designed by architect Guy Tarrant. The house, which was a finalist in the 2018 Home of the Year awards, was completed in April 2017.