Urban Oasis: Sanctuary in the City

Edited by Michelle Heslop. Photos by Darian Hocking.

A carefully appointed Art Deco home in historic Vic West, that only a few months ago was concealed in weeds and patchy grass, has been transformed into an organic urban oasis. Biophilia Design Collective carefully tailored this small space to reflect the client’s needs and style to create outdoor ‘rooms’ for a morning coffee, late afternoon sunset, and evening entertainment. Tranquility, lush greenery, and organic lines define this urban oasis.

Flowing perennial drifts and grasses adorn the front to create a sense of movement. Amble along the curved flagstone path to a private sitting area that catches the warm afternoon sun. Custom aluminum framed cedar privacy panels inter-planted with bamboo and grasses maintain this tranquil feel. Continue on the flagstone path to the back garden, lush with shade plants and a private deck.

The piece de resistance is the private raised deck area nestled in the warmth of cedar fencing. Adorned with ‘wooley pockets’, bursting with annuals and accented with succulents, the fence ripens into part of the garden itself. String lighting and a custom stainless /cedar BBQ cook top refine the deck into a serene outdoor living space that connects the client with their environment.

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Grasses and shade plants provide a feast of colourful contrast along the flagstone path.

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Woolly pockets on cedar fencing draws the eye up to the colourful vertical garden.

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Surrounded by greenery and cedar this is more retreat than urban backyard.

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Biophilia‘s custom raw steel reflection cube planter provides contrast to the delicate grasses and shade plants.

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Refining the deck space by concealing the BBQ into a custom built cedar cabinet with a stainless steel cook top, doubles as a table when the BBQ is not in use.

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Create a festive night time experience. String lights bring a classic and playful feel to evening enjoyment of the space.

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Flowing drifts of perennials and grasses lead the eye to a private patio to catch the evening sun. The custom cedar and aluminum fencing play off of the art deco aluminum features of the home and create a unique feature in the garden.

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The fencing creates privacy while still allowing light to diffuse through the space and enhance the plantings around them.

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Juxtaposition and texture: the repetition of colour combinations and contrasting textures creates a bold and intriguing experience.

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Brushed aluminum and cedar fence panels provide a fresh modern element to an otherwise free flowing garden. Contrast and complement express the designers feelings in this garden element.