Overcoming the construction challenges of a steep block | Garden Design | Gardening Australia

Josh visits a steep riverside block in Perth where the owners have had to work around some interesting natural features. Subscribe 🔔 ab.co/GA-subscribe
Owner Andrew Boyne is an architect who enjoyed the challenge of creating a low-impact home on the battle-axe block, and he devoted 80% of the land to garden. He says the presence of fresh water in such a summer-dry climate as a blessing; “We can irrigate the whole garden all year.”
To level out the site, three terraces were created. This allows different planting conditions, with the edges of the terraces were raised to allow more arid species to grow there, by bringing them out of the water table.
Drainage is an issue because the water level is so high; soak wells were dug around the property to help dry it out, and elevating certain areas helped, too.
Any rain is collected through soak wells and then pushed through the main creek system that runs through the property.
The soak wells also direct the spring water to a number of water features, and from here they go via a waterfalls to the creek to a wetland.
More than 200 Western Australian plants have been used in the garden, with three areas representing three different WA regions.
Verticordia grandis has pride of place in a vertical concrete pipe that is visible from the main living space. Bull banksias and a Karri tree are other favourites.
Having huge picture windows helps connect them to the trees and plants when then connect them to place.
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[@wildlifegardenssydney7492]

This is one of the best of the very best houses that truely blend into nature🙌🙌……the birds….the trees…….the wetland and the wildlife! To have a house with all those indigenous plants and other native species from Western Australia and a house with windows doors and and a wide open door/deck…..where you both sat …..and 80% of the block being permeable garden areas is outstanding. Thank you for explaining the different aspects of the block. How wonderful that your family and friends helped you practically, to build it too. This is such a fantastic living example of sustainability and exquisite style. Of turning problems into a solution.

[@GardeningAustralia]

Thanks for the great feedback and for watching!

[@wildlifegardenssydney7492]

I loved that covered but open frog box

[@ksenijavojisavljevic2034]

Beautiful and so smart

[@alisonburgess345]

Western Australia has the BEST Australian natives by far. No exotics come even close to the WA natives.

[@VK-qo1gm]

Agree 💯

[@GardeningAustralia]

They’re pretty amazing!

[@Freshbott2]

More than half of the species on the continent!

[@andyk8322]

That was great