Te Whare Māra

Te whare mara courtyard general view with steel planters, concrete steps and retaining and biodiverse native planting which wraps around the house designed bt Gerald Parsonson Architects.

The garden wraps itself around a home rebuilt by Gerald Parsonson Architects, exploiting the hilly terrain to create a multi-level garden.

View of the garden from the kitchen and dining room shows how it blends into the borrowed landscape behind through the double height windows and the use of native tree and shrub planting which blends in with the wild landscape of the hill behind.

This project was the Supreme Winner of the Residential Category at the 2022 NZILA Awards and was featured in HOME Magazine, Landscape Architecture Aotearoa and Sage Journal in 2023.

Concrete steps and path with powdercoated steel planters and retaining. Designer fencing is softened with diverse, textural native planting. Mark's garden designs seek to provide seamless integration of all elemenmts.

Careful consideration was given to the paving, steps, planters and fencing to provide a consistent, singular aesthetic throughout.

Described as a garden for the future, this garden was featured in House and Garden Magazine and won the residential category of the Tuia Pito Ora New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects awards in 2022.

Bespoke, detailed fencing design provides a framework on which to grow native climbers like this clematis paniculata which softens the top line of the fence and enhances privacy within the garden.

Bespoke sliding steel gates and custom latches with laser cut detail.

Dog and security fencing is provided by timber fencing and custom steel sliding gates and latches on either side of the house.

Native flowering plants soften the paving surfaces which alternate between decking and concrete to provide visual interest and break down the scale of the spaces. Decking also helps navigate the hilly terrain and provide compliance at entry points.

Textural, divaricating New Zealand native plants like prostrate kowhai contrast against the toothed lancewood to provide a distinct Aotearoa character.

Lighting adds dynamic shadow play at night while providing both wayfinding and feature lights to lead the eye out over the landscape.

Garden lighting provides an engaing overlay to thew garden. Tree uplights, step lights, pendant lights and LED lighting under seats create pools of light adding drama as well as safe wayfinding lighting at night.

Architect Gerald Parsonson substantially rebuilt the mid-century modern house and provides a thoughtful and restful response which the garden echoes throughout.

NZILA Awards Citation 2022

Photographs by Andy Spain in association with Local.

Webb Street Garden