Marshall courtyard

Victoria 2007

 

At the peak of the 2006-7 drought, I was approached by the client to consider ways of converting an outdoor spa into a water storage unit. As the in-ground spa occupied a third of the total area, it was time to invigorate the space to allow a different, more versatile use suited for entertaining.

Crafted over a couple of decades, the site consists of a retail/gallery shopfront, workshop, open courtyard, private residence, garage, studio & private courtyard/patio. In the north facing aspect, the private courtyard is structurally defined. The spa sits within a terrace & is edged by a narrow garden bed that continues along to form a raised garden.

The existing masonry is stable & in excellent condition, affording a strong framework. In fact, the ‘sandstone’ type concrete pavers prove to be necessary in retaining the light, natural quality of the courtyard’s texture. The rendered walls & limewash earthy colours are consistent with this effect. The established planting is in equally good condition.

A Mediterranean theme was emerging. Along with the sweltering heat in Melbourne at the time, my recent study of Penelope Hobhouse’s ‘Persian Gardens’, and the client’s impending sailing trip to Turkey & the Greek islands - the momentum grew with the suggestion of intricate Islamic style tiles.

The conversion to water tank was ingeniously met with a custom-built fibreglass ‘lid’. The cover was attached & sealed to the outer edges of the spa shell on the terrace level. Pipes & pumps were installed to move water, including a supply to the household.

The other key matter was how to build a surfacing that would effectively span over the original spa edge. The selected material needed to compliment the existing paving material at ground-level. Finally, wharf size Modwood was used for its promised durability, consistent colour & texture. The ‘Tallowood’ selection gave a quality of finish that complimented flush finishes typical of all works & materials at the complex. A boxed seat in the far corner further accentuated the flow of the horizontal plane upwards, over the rendered wall to look up into the sky.

In response to the open light aspect, Mediterranean courtyard garden theme & form, detail features were thoughtfully applied. The most striking element was incorporating hand painted Middle Eastern tiles. Arranged in a row along the step riser & at the foot of the bench, the asymmetrical sequencing of aqua & yellow square tiles provided a lively nuance to the remodelled courtyard. Moreover, the floral motif in the tiles figuratively extended the planting into the. Also, as the existing planting was vertically accented, the rows of tiles embellished the horizontal plane that dominated the main perspective from the residence.

While the fresh colour of the tiles animated the decking & paving, they appeared rather lost in relation to the earthy walls. There seemed to be a missing link between the existing & the introduced elements of the courtyard. In addition to this, the lipstick feature wall of the adjoining studio jarred with the courtyard’s tones. Hence the inspiration to integrate with an aqua limewash was indisputable. Even though the right aqua tone would prove to be a challenge, a custom colour hit the spot in consolidating the overall design.

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