SHAPES AND SIZES
Mark works in a range of styles to suit the client,
architecture and broader landscape context
The Devil in the Detail
This Wellington south coast project used heavy duty macrocarpa to provide a robust design language and materiality that stands up to its environment.
The darkened exposed aggregate concrete provides a low cost paving surface which is broken up with the dynamic lines of inlaid treated pine to ensure a durability.
I love working closely with the contractor to make the most of every detail, finish, texture and colour.
Low Maintenance at scale
‘In 25 years of practice, no-one has ever asked me for a HIGH maintenance garden.’
In this garden, I suggested concentrating maintenance-heavy elements like garden beds and vege gardens near the house. Everywhere else we used mown and unmown lawn and specimen trees to provide useable areas and to articulate space and lead the eye out to the view.
Consistency
On hilly urban terrain, space is the ultimate luxury. A little bit of lawn adds so much to the feel of a family garden.
Simplicity
Most of my clients don’t want to spend all weekend maintaining their garden, just a pleasant outlook with minimal effort.
For this exposed hilltop garden, we kept the planting minimal and relied on the hard landscape (paths, fencing etc) to provide the visual interest. We used simple, robust materials like poured concrete paving to ensure it stayed neat and tidy long-term.
Monochromatic bright green planting provides a fresh, calm and green contrast to the hard landscape.
Renovation and Renewal
Carefully considered materials and details provide a contemporary response to a heritage house renovation.
Finding a balance between order and nature.
Heritage house renovation
This heritage listed home required careful consideration to ensure the new garden matched the character of the renovated home.
A new basement level under the house and most of the garden meant much of the planting had to be in raised planters.
As much as possible of the existing garden was retained and adapted to the new spaces.
Identifying and reflecting the unique character of every site
WITH YOU AT EVERY STEP
WITH YOU AT EVERY STEP
Photographs by Andy Spain and Mark Newdick in association with Local.