Portfolio

Berowra Residence

French courtyard
​This project presented a unique opportunity to create a new outdoor room within the existing house parameters. Travertine pavers were used for the floor, and sides of the raised planters, with new bi-fold doors providing direct access from the lounge room. The original 70s brick walls were partly demolished and rendered with a light colour to brighten the space. The space has completely transformed how the client's use their home, and created a new entertainment terrace which takes in the bushland views. 

Berowra Residence

Garden gatherings
This project was unique in that it had to function as a front of house approach for vehicles and people, as well as provide a usable family space for gatherings and play. There were a couple of sketch designs produced to illustrate the options for the driveway. In the end the curved driveway has been integrated through the garden with a separate pedestrian gate directing visitors to the front door via a stepping stone garden pathway. A sitting area has been created outside the front door which gets shade from the western sun in summer and sun on cold winter days. 

North Epping Residence

Textured garden

​The client approached LH Studio with a clear vision for their garden, they wanted a new garden style with lots of green textures. The proposed planting extended all the way to the back of kerb, creating a large garden area full of variety and patterns. Gravel curves within the planting adds a textural element as well as drainage channels to take excess rainwater away from the house. A new timber structure with hanging plants provides screening to the adjacent property. 

Northbridge Residence

Bird sanctuary

The backyard for this project presented a unique opportunity to design a usable garden lawn set amongst a sanctuary for small birds and other native animals in the middle of suburbia. Small bird species such as finches and fairy wrens require a habitat of low growing dense vegetation as safe hiding spots for their nests and food supplies as opposed to tall tree canopies. Layers of endemic native vegetation was strategically placed to create these habitats, including a custom designed bird water rill included in the curved garden edge. 

Berowra Residence

Outdoor room

The sketch masterplan for this project provided a vision for the whole back garden, including a new outdoor terrace and revitalisation of the pool area. LH Studio provided detailed plans for Phase 1 of the build, illustrating the new outdoor fireplace, lounge, dining and kitchen terrace. The roof structure was detailed and installed by Emante&Co. The new terrace has completely transformed the way the family use the space and entertain their friends. Photo credits: Emante&Co. 

Wahroonga Residence​

Resort lifestyle

This project utilised the parameters of the existing house to its fullest potential, by moving the existing garage to create a generous covered entertainment deck with new outdoor bar and lounge seating. On the higher level, access to a swim spa is the icing on the cake to this resort style garden. Many of the existing trees were retained to maintain privacy from surrounding residences.  The new garden beds will include tropical plantings such as Frangipani, as well as a new vegetable and herb garden.

Brookfield Residence (QLD)

Luxury home

​We partnered with Brisbane firm The Green Boutique to create a garden setting for this stunning luxury home in the rural suburbs of Brisbane. The house is set on the side of a slope amongst native bushland with a natural vista over the property. The landscape design includes pockets of gardens around the home, including a turf area which connects the garden to the kitchen and entertaining terrace. Large sandstone block walls were used to adjust the levels, and native plants and boulders are nestled in and around the walls to soften them into the landscape. Endemic native plants were specified to blend in the landscape with the existing bushland. 

Wahroonga Residence

Family friendly

The brief for this site, which borders on Lane Cove National Park, was to create a landscape masterplan for the whole property with the focus on providing family friendly, low maintenance and usable spaces. The backyard is steeply sloping away from the house which created the opportunity for terraces to step down to a lower turf space. Each space can be fenced off for safety and makes the most of the bush vista whilst creating sitting and play spaces at each level. In the front yard, privacy and sense of enclosure has been provided by adding hedge planting, and a new seat and garden bed under an existing tree provides a shaded sitting area in summer. 

Berowra Residence

​Family time

The owners of this new build home wanted a garden for their young family which made the most of the available space on the lot. A large turf area spilling out from the family room is maximised and provides a space for informal play and ball games. A raised deck with outdoor dining table next to the BBQ area provides a space for entertaining whilst overlooking the rest of the garden. A new deck at the front of the house makes sense of level differences and stormwater drain constraints through this area, and creates usable space out of what would otherwise be dead space. The entry to the house is framed by feature planting, including a mix of exotic and native flowering trees and shrubs that highlight the gate entry and front door. 

Berowra Residence

Garden courtyard

This recently renovated home takes in the uninterrupted vista of the surrounding National Park. A sketch master plan was created for the whole property for the client to install over time, including ideas for the pool terrace and covered deck. As the main deck faces west, the client wanted the front garden to be a usable seating space which is naturally shaded from the summer sun and westerly winds. The front garden has been detailed and includes a raised seating area nestled by raised planters, garden beds and pots with a mix of white and pink flowering plants and a pink climbing rose over the entry arbour. The stepping stones surrounded by ground covers create a connection to the existing stairs and front door. Every opportunity to add green to the space adds a soft, garden retreat feel to the setting. 

Berowra Residence

Entertainers garden

This front garden was naturally sloping towards the street and therefore mostly unusable. The client wanted to create a usable family garden which connects to the indoor living space and provides a private outdoor space for entertaining and gathering. The existing driveway will be replaced with an underground carparking space with a new roof garden on top to create a seamless transition and accentuating the green space. Details such as a covered seating area and raised timber deck create opportunity for gathering and informal play.​ 

Newtown Apartments

City oasis

This simple design for a communal courtyard in Newtown is an inner city oasis, providing residents with a green space to sit and enjoy. A selection of colourful, flowering plants create interest around the edges of the garden, with stepping stones through the centre to allow for access and informal seating.

North Sydney School

Vertical garden

LH Studio was engaged by an architectural firm to provide planting plans for raised planters integrated with the high rise building form for a Sydney school. Whilst a small project on paper, the design process involved coordination with several consultants to meet the brief requirements set by the school. 

Hornsby Residence

Reclaimed garden

This beautiful sloping property had a large backyard which was under utilised and required better access. The design was resolved with the client by creating a modified turf area and new deck adjacent to the main living space to make the most of the existing bush vista. New steps and pathways down to the lower garden improves access for maintenance, with new hedge planting on the boundary increasing natural privacy. Proposed retaining walls stabilise the spaces allowing opportunities for additional seating areas and creating new garden beds for the low maintenance plant species. 

Mt Kuring-gai Residence

Garden rooms

This new build house on a subdivided block had a fairly small backyard which not connected to the house. The client wanted to make the most use of the outdoor space so the design included distinct garden rooms which aligned with internal spaces of the house whilst also connecting the whole backyard together. The design includes different seating areas and play spaces and maximises the space available. 

Cowan Residence

Garden meets bush

This newly renovated house on a large sloping block needed a usable garden to provide additional outdoor recreation and usability. In the backyard, a proposed gabion retaining wall creates a level turf area which automatically provides additional usable space alongside the downstairs office and living areas, making the most of the bushland outlook. In the front yard, a vegetable garden and orchard is provided along with dedicated basketball area and bicycle parking near the house entry.