COASTAL FOOD FOREST
This is actually my own home - my first house - that I was fortunate enough to design myself.
THE CONCEPT
I wanted this house to reflect its location - a reasonably leafy beachside suburb with relaxed vibes and an eclectic mix of architecture from early 1900s to present. I wanted to be surrounded by edible and ornamental plants and provide something "different" enough to be a point of interest - not just another sardine can house.
Planning the house
As the site is a hammerhead block, it was critical that ALL design elements were considered from the very beginning in order to address awkward shaped areas and accessibility requirements. In my case, this meant starting with the landscape design FIRST. By assessing the sun/wind conditions to establish the house orientation it meant all living spaces faced north to maximise solar passive heating/cooling, and bedrooms south to reduce heat and noise. Glazing along the western facade with awnings allow passive heating in the winter. An "L" shaped yard allows the yard to be used at different times of the day, and for the house to be entirely surrounded by greenery. A double garage in the centre of the house allows sufficient vehicle access and separates the home into two living quarters (as I'm sharing the house with my brother).
A hardwood timber porch and fence softens the brick facade of this Seacliff Park residence. I wanted a fresh take on a beach house using brick, render and scyon cladding with views across to Gulf St Vincent in the northwest. As a keen entertainer, I needed an undercover area as well as clever spaces for urban food production to satisfy my goals to be self sufficient (one day) - all within an area of less than 200m2.
THE LANDSCAPE
The rear garden incoporates an L-shaped deck and pergola from the living room, constructed from Australian blackbutt timber to match the internal floor boards - thus blending the threshold between inside/outside and extending the overall living area. fixed timber louvres sit at 31 degree angles across the roof structure (calculated by analysis of local sun angles) to enable maximum sunlight to warm the living room in winter when the sun is lower, while completely shading the house in peak summer.
The area in front of the master bedroom is partly screened off by the pergola to enhance the sense of depth in the small yard and also creates its own view out to a private garden space. Screenings also allow for cimbing plants to ramble across the structure and provide added privacy.
Plant choices were well considered in order to provide privacy while not blocking views to the ocean. Thysanolaena maxima (tiger grass) requires greater irrigation and is tolerant of shade so it was used in the lowest point of the garden where water often collects. This was also chosen to provide a lush background while limiting enough height to view the ocean above. Acmena smithii, much taller, screens the view from overlooking double-storey neighbours, while offering protection from hot dry northerly winds.
The combination of textures was continued from the house to the front garden with upright Bangalow palms and gymea lily providing a sense of height while framing the entrance. Avocado lines the southern boundary, on a slope for perfect drainage and protected from all wind directions. A rare NZ Puka tree with its oblonged wavy leaves sits on the eastern facade, protected from the blazing afternoon sun, while compact forms of metrosideros showcase explosions of fluorescent orange-red puffs in the spring time, drawing on the red in the existing driveway clay pavers. Viburnum emerald lustre provides a glossy lime green backdrop for the orange heads of aloes (winter), Kniphofia (summer) and kangaroo paw (Spring/Autumn) to burst their way up at opposing times of the year, and all in front of a contrasting turquoise clad wall. Silvery foliage of wrestringia, metrosideros and kalanchoe tie everything back to the primary colour of the dwelling.
For urban food production I turned to my studies of permaculture began utilising marginal areas such as fences and vertical space for fruit production. Passion fruit, grapes and dragon fruit climb up various structures, while a row of citrus form a noise and wind barrier to the SW prevailing winds. Interspersed between protected spots are more subtropical edibles such as mango, pineapple, guava and pawpaw. Raised veggie beds are located close to doors for least effort (permaculture principles) and sit in view from the kitchen splashback window for an instant connection to "farm to plate".
