Compact site. Tight boundaries. Big expectations.
This Hawthorn East courtyard began as a narrow, lawn-heavy backyard with little privacy and no clear entertaining zone. It felt exposed from every angle and disconnected from the house. The owners wanted somewhere to gather, for dinners, drinks, long evenings, but the space worked against them.
So we started by reading the site.
The brief was to create a contemporary outdoor living zone that feels private, warm, and architectural without overcrowding the footprint. And keep it low maintenance.
Reworking a Tight, Exposed Backyard
Urban density here means close fences and overlooking windows. Privacy was the first challenge. We approached it vertically. The pergola anchors the space, aligning with the home’s internal axis and extending it outward. It grounds the entertaining area while opening the space upward.
Along the boundaries, laser-cut corten steel screens filter views rather than block them. You feel protected, not enclosed. Corten develops a stable rusted finish that protects the steel beneath. No repainting. No ongoing treatment. It simply ages. That warm patina paired with timber adds depth and structure.
Defining the Space Through Level Change
Level changes were subtle but important. A raised timber deck defines the entertaining zone. One step shifts how the space is used. It becomes an outdoor room, a clear transition from inside to out. Beneath it, proper drainage and airflow were essential. Melbourne’s clay soils demand that level of detail.
Merbau was selected for durability and warmth. It can weather to silver or retain its richness with maintenance. Either way, it matures well.
Planting was kept structured and restrained. Layered evergreens, grasses, and groundcovers create depth without clutter while keeping maintenance realistic.
Lighting extends the space into the evening. Warm, subtle, and functional.
What was once a basic backyard now works as a complete outdoor living space. Private, open, and built to perform over time.
