garden gold

Winning the gold award in the residential section as well as the Resene Colour Award of Excellence, Ted Smyth's solution for a coastal garden includes swathes of grasses, sliced through with a dramatic 'diving board'. A collaborative relationship developed between Ted and the owners of the property – Ted encouraged them to work with nature by encircling the gardens in natives while the owners chose hot orange flowering exotic plants placed closer to the house.

The award judges said the "stunning garden has a sense of completeness. A carefully considered and orchestrated work of art, the site has been treated as a three dimensional canvas. Structurally the garden is a continuous flow of spaces that specifically address each of the clients' needs. Earthworks are minimal, in keeping with the sensitivity of the site… A restrained and consistent palette of materials, plant combinations and attention to detail makes this an outstanding example of landscape architecture's role in home-making."