The rear garden had tall hedges creating privacy and it was imperative they be kept for the owners of this traditional home.
The brief for this property was to retain the existing privacy hedges whilst getting the largest hydrotherapy pool and a small entertaining area into the space.
The mature Cupressocyparis Leighton Green (green cypress) hedge blocked out a 3-story nursing home to one side and a mature Viburnum odoratissimum (sweet viburnum) hedge a 2-story home to the rear creating privacy. The hedges were elevated around 900mm from ground level.
A Total Concept designed a temporary shoring system allowing for the existing walls holding up the hedges to be removed while retaining the hedges. The shoring was designed to be left insitu whilst the large pool was excavated and then concrete poured.
Access to the site was along an old defunct driveway that was also incorporated into the final design as a front off street parking area and a covered and screened utility area. Excavation and removal of spoil was easy with this access. The house itself needed shoring as the excavation proceeded because digging in sand and kept running, threatening to undermine the house.
The traditional house had large doors opening onto the rear area so a large podium area with an uninterrupted view was designed looking towards a large sandstone clad feature wall to the rear of the pool. This wall was designed as an extension of the pool itself, limiting access along one side and end.
Glass fencing by itself was too contemporary for the home so wrought iron top rail and posts were designed to contain the glass and together with the blond sandstone cladding and paving provide a more traditional feel.
An old shed was demolished at the end of the original driveway and to unify the entire space and it was decided to continue the elevated perimeter planting to encapsulate this area. This in turn enabled built in seating to be constructed to create an entertaining area at one end of the pool which in turn was balance by creating an ornate water feature at the opposite end of the swimming pool.
We decided to change planting style around the entertaining area to reinforce it as a separate area and to add more detailed planting for interest. Plants included Spathiphyllum wallisii 'sensation' (large leaf peace lily), trachelospermum ‘jasminioides (Chinese star jasmine), Crinum asiaticum (spider lily) plus a mature Plumeria rubra (frangipanni).
This design showcases A Total Concepts ability to think outside the square enabling the owners to retain their ever-important hedges and meet their budget and brief.
