Manly

Subtle levels that shape the experience

While the block is relatively flat, the design comes to life through gentle shifts between built forms and garden. Those small changes created opportunities for boardwalks and decks that float above water, lawn, and planting, adding a sense of movement and discovery. It’s a detail that can feel almost unnoticeable at first, yet it changes how you experience the garden. Rather than stepping directly onto hard surfaces, you drift through the landscape, with breathing room beneath you and a stronger connection to what surrounds you.

Boardwalks and decks with a coastal rhythm

The boardwalk concept was designed to evoke the coastline, like walking along timber edging beside a body of water, with sand dunes and grasses nearby. The meandering lines soften the geometry of the site and guide you naturally through different zones, making the garden feel like a place to wander, not just a space to stand in.

Limestone and water tone

The pool was comfortably nestled into a corner, allowing the rest of the garden to remain open and generous. Limestone paving was used to frame the pool and then descends into the water and through the pool itself, creating a beautiful, natural water tone that suits the coastal setting. This continuity of material keeps the pool feeling integrated into the landscape, rather than sitting apart from it.

Lawn perfection, holiday atmosphere

The homeowner’s lawn is maintained to an exceptional standard, closer to a bowling green than a typical coastal yard. The garden landscaping design needed to complement that crispness without feeling formal. The answer was a planting approach and material palette that keeps everything relaxed and inviting, creating holiday vibes where barefoot living is not only welcome, it feels like the only way to enjoy the space.

Design and Construction: Landart

Design team: Matt Leacy and Tom Wright

Photography: Jason Busch