no.6

Within one of Christchurch’s oldest suburbs, this carefully layered garden reimagines what’s possible within a compact footprint. Conceived in response to a sharply angled boundary along the street, the design faced a clear challenge: to ensure privacy and security without sacrificing the quality of outdoor living. The result is a finely composed garden that pairs architectural precision with a sense of quiet immersion.

The planting is layered with deliberate contrast. Vertical green walls lend softness to the enclosure, creating moments of intimacy and blurring the line between built form and planting. At ground level, a varied interplay of foliage textures—from broad, reflective leaves to finer, more intricate forms—produces a dynamic, multi-sensory experience. The tonal palette shifts subtly across the garden, with deep greens punctuated by lighter silvery hues and occasional dark, moody accents.

Upright floral elements introduce a sense of movement and lightness, catching the breeze and animating the space. In one corner, the dark-leafed foliage and tall white spires of a perennial provide a quiet counterpoint to the surrounding green—a single moment of seasonal drama held within an otherwise restrained palette.

Photography – Sarah Rowlands