Melville Garden

Entertaining guests is a breeze for the owners of this steeply sloped dwelling in Melville.

Designed by Matthew Gee of Phase3 Landscape Construction, the garden is a focal point to the elevated home above.
The existing backyard consisted of grassed terraces constructed using limestone retaining walls, and as a result the backyard had been divided into two unusable areas.

Phase3 was appointed to address the terracing and create a functional multi-use space to include a pool and a cabana with an adjoining storeroom and bathroom. The resulting design needed to accommodate young children, space for entertaining
and a dog, while maintaining a high architectural aesthetic. A key challenge was to include all the elements into the relatively steep site, which has a large height differential from the house to the alfresco. Rather than see this difference as a hindrance, the design addressed it by incorporating split levels between the turf, pool and alfresco areas. Existing raised limestone
planters to the north boundary and decked areas were maintained and incorporated into the final design.

The L-shaped pool and cabana are the showstoppers of the design, creating a resort-style ambience and sense of seclusion.
Materials used include recycled jarrah, galvanised steel, natural plywood and zincalume, which provide an earthy, honest and quintessential ‘Australian’ aesthetic. The cabana is made for entertaining and includes a large kitchenette with stainless steel appliances and surfaces, ceilingmounted heating and a TV on the wall at the southern end of the structure. Honed concrete was
selected as the primary surface material and is used as the paving surface as well as forming the capping for the pool edge.

The raised pool edges also act as ledges for seating and standing. A frangipani and other existing vegetation were incorporated into the design to provide immediate impact.