SUMMER BLISS

The quintessential New Zealand summer holiday consists of a sweet and salty combination of the scorching sun, pounding surf, deep, refreshing river swims and long, balmy evenings spent around the campfire. For most of us, the summer break is much too short, and we spend the majority of the warmer months rushing back from work to savour the lingering daylight. It’s for this reason that many gardens come equipped with swimming pools, braziers, and hammocks hung in the branches; elements that echo the Kiwi summer at home. Nowhere is this more evident than houses located at the beach or at family baches.

When working with coastal homes, the challenge for a landscape architect is to create outdoor spaces which will complement the surrounding landscape plus cater for outdoor activities, as well as cope with the extremes of climate and conditions that go hand-in-hand with our unpredictable weather.

On a recent project, I worked with a family who are firm locals, regular beachgoers, and surf enthusiasts – and this love of the outdoors, plus a desire to entertain groups of all ages, informed the design of the garden and outdoor living.

The brief was to create a space that would reflect the surrounding landscape, work with their lifestyle, and cater to their water-loving friends and visitors.

The practicalities of beachfront living dictated a functional approach, and so we included an outdoor shower, large washdown area for surfboards, and direct beach access via gates.

The coastal New Zealand planting scheme includes species happy to live with sandy soil, salty air and a brisk sea breeze, complemented by hard-wearing materials like concrete and timber that is well suited to the harsh conditions.

The entertaining areas are positioned at the sheltered rear of the home. They include paved seating areas and a custom-designed bench and gas fire which contains barbecue and outdoor fridge. An in-ground heated pool and spa pool complete the playground which has become a much-loved retreat for the family to enjoy an idyllic holiday lifestyle for a large portion of the year.

The secret to a coastal garden space that works is to take inspiration from the area and the impact of seasonal elements. Include natural materials such as timber, stones, shells and concrete which will blend with the environment as well as survive its onslaught.

Choose to include elements that will bring people together and create a space where the family gathers to relax, prolonging that blissful holiday feeling as long as you can.