Suburban Edge Makeover

Brian and Glenda Sargeant’s brief was simple; a low maintenance practical design that would integrate into an existing bush backdrop. They also wanted improved and safer street access as they live on a very busy Dunedin road. The plan we drew up helped resolve several issues: people using the public walkway at the back of the property being able to see into the backyard, and a lack of privacy from the main road at the front. We designed two partial fences to obscure pedestrian views at the rear and to act as an interruptor at the front, while assisting vehicle turning and parking. The plan features a low rock wall, raised beds, a sun-drenched bench and plantings that bring into view the natives on the reserve behind the property. Take a look at this video overview of our work and then cast your eyes over the individual component images below. We think you’ll like what you see! Because privacy is an issue at the front of the property we designed and built a hardwood partial fence that still allows vehicles to come in one side and out the other, easily turning in front of the house. This fence interrupts the view of the house from the road, increasing the privacy for the owners. Behind the house, lack of privacy was also an issue because of an adjacent walkway through a public reserve. We resolved this with further partial fencing that screens the backyard and provides seating and planting as well as a backdrop for the garden. Other features of the property makeover include a small rock wall that divides the garden from the lawn, raised beds, short retaining walls and all-weather paths.