Stickybeak of the Week: An Inner-City Courtyard for Every Occasion
An outdoor space combining a covered kitchen with an exposed entertaining area is the perfect setting for life in Sydney
When you live in an inner-city Australian suburb, you really can’t beat having your own outdoor living space that is perfectly suited to both summer and winter; and that is just what this redeveloped Federation villa located in the heart of Sydney can boast. Designed and landscaped by the team at Outdoor Establishments, and built with privacy and entertaining in mind, the courtyard offers both shade and sunshine and is a private oasis in Sydney’s historic suburb of Woolloomooloo.
Courtyard at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple with their dog
Location: Woolloomooloo, Sydney
Size: Outdoor kitchen area deck is 20 square metres; lower courtyard is 25 square metres
Design and landscaping: Outdoor Establishments
Courtyard at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple with their dog
Location: Woolloomooloo, Sydney
Size: Outdoor kitchen area deck is 20 square metres; lower courtyard is 25 square metres
Design and landscaping: Outdoor Establishments
Trystan Graham of Outdoor Establishments knew he had his work cut out for him when he viewed the ex-housing commission property he was asked to see, with a view to renovating its outdoor areas. “Both the house and garden were completely derelict and unusable,” he says.
Privacy and the ability to entertain served as key factors of the brief. This was to counteract the fact that the house is closely surrounded by neighbouring villas, with their windows overlooking the rear space. The design also had to reflect the young and sociable style of the inner-city neighbourhood it was in – one that was undergoing gentrification. Plus, because the house had a rear lane access, the lower courtyard needed to be big enough to park a car.
The result was an outdoor living space that combines a covered deck and and exposed courtyard. The deck accommodates a kitchen and dining area, while the courtyard has outdoor seating and a fire pit. “Floor to ceiling bi-folds seamlessly link the kitchen to the outdoor entertaining area,” says Graham.
In the kitchen, Tuscan Suede cladding from KLS Stone lines the walls and reflects the many sandstone buildings in the area, while a functional kitchen in crisp white and stainless steel includes a drinks’ fridge and barbecue.
Outdoor Establishments worked with property developers A Gentleman’s Agreement, who bought the original block, as well as with Allan Slade Constructions for the internal build. Graham says the resulting project was “sympathetic to the existing architecture and local history, while successfully introducing modern materials”.
Outdoor Establishments worked with property developers A Gentleman’s Agreement, who bought the original block, as well as with Allan Slade Constructions for the internal build. Graham says the resulting project was “sympathetic to the existing architecture and local history, while successfully introducing modern materials”.
In the lower courtyard, the Thor Firepit and grey-upholstered Breeze Sofa and Loungers, all from Made By Tait, complement the cool tones of the durable blue marble paving.
The strict budget and speed of the build played a role in the selection of materials. “We focused on re-use of materials as much as we could, to avoid unnecessary waste and the need to purchase more materials,” says Graham.
The design included tallowwood for decking the kitchen area and off-form concrete for the stairs between deck and paved courtyard. The boundary fence was constructed from floorboards recycled from the interior of the house, and the raised planters were fashioned from rescued convict bricks.
The design included tallowwood for decking the kitchen area and off-form concrete for the stairs between deck and paved courtyard. The boundary fence was constructed from floorboards recycled from the interior of the house, and the raised planters were fashioned from rescued convict bricks.
When it came to the landscaping, Graham says they “used strategic planting to create privacy and ensure precious floor space was not taken up”. This included:
- Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’ that cascades down the side of the recycled brick planters;
- Pyrus calleryana ‘Cleveland Select’ is an upright plant that adds seasonal colour and enhances privacy;
- Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ forms the underplanting – it is popularly used in public areas of the surrounding Woolloomooloo neighbourhood;
- Fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) and Sansevieria, or mother-in-law’s tongue, thrive in heavy shade;
- Magnolia grandiflora ‘Teddy Bear’ serve as focal-point feature trees; and
- Jade plant (Crassula ovata), and blue chalk sticks (Senecio serpens), are carefree plants with few maintenance requirements.
In recognition of the great success of the courtyard, Outdoor Establishments won the LNA Master Landscapers Association gold award 2015 for a residential project under $75,000. And while not all inner-city dwellers may be lucky enough to take solace in their own private indoor-outdoor courtyard, should they wish to renovate one, this design is well worth considering.
TELL US
Share your thoughts with us on this outdoor renovation, and how it has utilised the available space, in the Comments below.
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TELL US
Share your thoughts with us on this outdoor renovation, and how it has utilised the available space, in the Comments below.
MORE
Stickybeak of the Week: Contemporary Calm in a French Garden
Stickybeak of the Week: A ‘Birdhouse’ Retreat Just for Grown Ups
See More Amazing Courtyards