The challenge here was threefold:
1. To restore the riparian area by the slough with native plant material,
2. Maintain a view corridor from the house to the slough, and
3. To provides as natural looking transition as possible, between the more groomed garden, closer to the house, and the fairly dense native plantings on either side of the dry river bed.

On this site, the difference in elevation between the front and the rear (approximately 10') dictated the approach my clients wanted us to take. Their Living area, the top two floors have a fabulous view of howe sound [with a garage in between. the decision to green the garage roof became a part of the terms of reference for this project. As well as screening the house to the west.

The front part of this project, consisted of raising the garden level and consequently burying about half the existing stair leading from a loved and well used terrace down to a somewhat remote, and rarely visited lower garden. By doing this, the garden became considerately more accessible, while allowing us to use the original elevation as the base of a stream and pond, complete with koi. In the rear courtyard a small new stair gives access to a wild garden while new walls define planters which in turn form a transition to this formerly barely accessible area.

This rear area between a baronial historic home and the lane to the north had been severed by a steep driveway. Construction of a major duplex to the west made addressing privacy a key issue, hence the bamboo screening complete with supporting structure. Once the steep driveway between the house and the lane was removed, the intimate sunken garden became a possibility. while the lane level patio doubles as long term parking.

This project involved adding a double garage in a very tight building envelope. Succesfuly challenging the board of variance to relax a bylaw which should not have applied to the situation in which our clients found themselves in the first place. And, in the final analysis having the addition look as though it was supposed to have been there all along. Both the rear as well as the front garden had serious grade transitions which had to be resolved with particular attention to improved pedestrian flow. The rear garden needed three inter-related areas, an elegant patio area for dining and entertaining. An orchard/vegetable garden. And finally a lawn/play area for the kids. as well as enhanced privacy.