2016 National Landscape Architecture Awards: Award for Gardens

Jury comment

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by a blank canvas and a client whose vision is only to create something welcoming. In such situations, the role of the landscape architect is to show restraint and carefully pull all of the desirable features into a cohesive whole. The garden of North Shore Estate in Sydney’s northern suburbs achieves this. Using heritage-listed oak trees as a starting point, the design seeks to evoke a sense of relaxed formality that expresses balance and unity. At the same time, repurposing the old swimming pool allows for the capturing of precious rainwater, while various rooms in the garden provide diverse experiences. All this is beautifully executed with a careful selection of materials and plant species.