May Street

Design by award winning landscape designer Paul Bangay. Built by the Great Spaces construction team.

Brief

Paul Bangay is widely regarded as the foremost garden designer in Australia and is known for his classic style with a contemporary edge. The owners of a spectacular Aberfeldie residence commissioned Paul to create a design for a private outdoor entertaining space in keeping with the impressive architecture of their property. Then they approached us to construct and bring the vision for their luxurious courtyard to life.

Design

The design would require complex technical skills, craftsmanship, and horticultural expertise to execute to exact specifications. Symmetrical raised beds with built-in floating benches and backrests would surround a space with luxury surfaces, stone capped walls, limestone paving, a built-in BBQ, and Ceasar Stone benchtop. Ornamental trees, cubical clipped borders, and plantings with strategic lighting would work together to create an elegant and luxurious feel.

Construction

With only steep narrow stairs and a side path, access to the space at the rear proved a challenge. A friendly neighbour allowed us to put down ground mats, move fences and build ramps to get machinery and materials in and out. Split levels of deck and earth were demolished, removed, and levelled. Concrete sleeper retaining walls were erected around the perimeter and a foundation slab formed the base.

The high-end design required extensive provision for lighting, irrigation, and drainage to help plants thrive and create a spectacular stage. Block walls were erected and rendered while the floating benches required significant steel engineering to support the limestone finishes.

Red Japanese maples and box hedges, Pleached Hill’s Fig, Star Jasmine Climbers, and beautifully scented Florida Gardenia were bedded in with care. The result is a great space that delivers everything the owners had imagined. A decadent sanctuary to lounge in and a fashionable space to entertain.