Nathan Burkett Design

ARMADALE
Nathan Burkett Design PO Box 703 Brentford Square VIC 3131 Phone: 03 9095 8344 www.nathanburkett.com.au

Blending seamlessly from indoors to out, this luxurious landscape by Nathan Burkett Design sets the benchmark for contemporary outdoor living.

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Chic and simple landscaping to the front of the property provides just the right amount of adornment to this contemporary home. A sleek travertine pathway and feature-lit trees lead towards the intriguing front gate, beyond which Nathan Burketts sophisticated creation continues to unfold.

Nathan has achieved a melodious balance between hard, soft and uid elements to the rear landscape. The lap pool surrounded by bluestone is stunning as it glistens in the sun and creates a spectacular effect on the white house exterior.

A hand cut travertine, oating seat gives the garden a contemporary, hard edge, juxtaposed by a timber screen incorporating a subtle stainless steel water feature and picture windows to the soft plantings behind. Consistent with the front of the property, a row of trees softens the adjacent hard elements.

Beyond the alfresco area built into the rooine of the house, an expanse of lawn provides further leisure space.

Despite the irregular shape of the block itself the design cleverly accommodates all the essentials while emphasizing a sense of space and depth. Through a variety of materials, colours and textures, the garden also retains character and personality, avoiding the cold and pretentious stereotype associated with contemporary design.

Photography by Urban Angels Photography

Nathan Burkett Design 132

PO Box 703, Brentford Square VIC 3131

Phone: 03 9095 8344

www.nathanburkett.com.au 133

Nathan Burkett Design

BALWYN
Integrating with the sites topography, straight and curved lines combine to create a landscape with enormous appeal.

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Flourishing with spaces for leisure and relaxation, this garden brings together hard and soft elements in harmonious fashion.

Those entering the garden from the homes rear living area are greeted by the cascading ow of the water feature spilling down from the raised pool above.

As one is drawn further into the garden, drama is created by the contrasting hard and soft elements. To one side, lush green lawn rolls up toward the tennis court beyond. To the other, bluestone steps ascend past the water feature, pool and sun lounge area.

At night the space enjoys a quiet ambiance, with lighting attentively arranged to showcase the gardens features and create a soft mood. As a result, this backyard can be enjoyed at any time of the day or night.

It is evident that designer Nathan Burkett prides himself on attention to detail; going to great lengths to ensure the design is timeless, intelligent and original. As he says, the art is in creatively nding ways in which the space around you can interact with and compliment your intervention.

Photography by Andrew Ashton

Nathan Burkett Design 136

PO Box 703, Brentford Square VIC 3131

Phone: 03 9095 8344

www.nathanburkett.com.au 137

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BRIGHTON
Constructed within a tight space at the front of a magnicent Brighton house, this architectural landscape is evidence of what is achievable with a bit of imagination.

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This project is a testament to the versatility of the landscape trade, and a great example of how attention to design in a small space can achieve big things, says creator Nathan Burkett of Nathan Burkett Design.

The lack of rear space on the property saw all landscape elements negotiated to t in the front. This presented quite the challenge to Nathans team, who conceptualized a space saving design that incorporated a pool, spa, alfresco area and private terrace in a design that is a perfect compliment to the home.

Planter boxes line the pool to bring garden and water together. The pool is the hero of the space as it wraps around a large planter box featuring a stunning Magnolia lit from below. Not only does this feature provide visual interest but it also acts as an alternative pool fence and denes the pools main access point next to the spa from the more private entry of the master suite.

Out from the homes living area a timber deck utilized as an alfresco dining and entertaining area is made cosy and private by the adjacent garden.

The charcoal and white colour palette of the landscape echoes that of the residence, with the rich tones of timber and the bright green plants making the whole space look full and lively. The homes modern aesthetic is reected in the sharp lines of the landscape and pool with the featured plants being those that soften the space.

Photography by Urban Angels Photography

Nathan Burkett Design 140

PO Box 703, Brentford Square VIC 3131

Phone: 03 9095 8344

www.nathanburkett.com.au 141

Nathan Burkett Design

LOWER PLENTY
Contrasting the traditional architecture of the home is this Australian-inspired landscape with lush lawn and soft native grasses. Water ows down a creek bed by the verandah, lling the entrance with its ambient trickling sound.

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To the backyard, a perfect balance is struck between formality and informality, contemporary and traditional. The residence embraces the generous landscape as it wraps around the pool, the focal point of the space.

Big entertainers, the owners requested an expanse of practical party spaces. With this in mind, extensive sandstone-lined terraces extend out from the home to enclose the pool.

Much of the beauty of this landscape is found in the clean lines and symmetry of both the hard and soft scapes. Lawns are kept geometric, with depth and height given to the landscape by the raised lawn area. Here, trees are lit magically from below offering a truly lovely effect of an evening.

The simple palette of plants and the clever arrangement of spaces achieve the owners desire for a low maintenance garden to be enjoyed throughout the year. Trees such as Hills Weeping Fig Ficus hilli, Capital Pear Pyrus calleryana Capital and Silver Birch Betula pendula were chosen for their strong architectural qualities. Azalea Scarlet Dragon brings some colour whilst Renga Renga Lilly Arthropodium cirratum and Dwarf Mondo Ophiopogon japonicus add softness to the site.

The rened elegance of the landscape is a reection of the home, expressing functionality with beauty, sophistication and the kind of attention to detail only Nathan Burkett can achieve.

Photography by Andrew Ashton

Nathan Burkett Design 144

PO Box 703, Brentford Square VIC 3131

Phone: 03 9095 8344

www.nathanburkett.com.au 145