Villa Rosa

Arched loggia with rattan chairs, potted palms and stone paving framing a view across Sydney Harbour to a wooded headland

This garden has been developed over a series of stages during what has been a long-standing relationship with our client. Spanning a double block with a steep descent to the water, this is an intimate garden that belies it’s true scale. The house was designed by the late architect Savin Couelle, once based in Sardinia and noted for his organic forms that were absorbed into the landscape. The garden has numerous destination points and highlights, many of which have been carved into the sandstone bedrock. Much of the site had been completely stripped and excavated during one of the larger stages when the neigbouring block was acquired to increase the garden, before then being rebuilt and populated with a diverse selection of mature palms and trees. Our client’s passion for Mediterranean gardens is reflected throughout the garden design, particularly the planting, rich in diversity and deliberately relaxed, it allows for regular change as we explore new species.

Location

Mosman

Completion

Never Complete

Service

Landscape Architecture, Construction, Horticultural Services

Architect

Savin Couelle 1929- 2020

Interiors

Hare + Klein

Still pool edged with sandstone boulders beneath pink crepe myrtle and dense canopy, opening to harbour and moored yachts, Sydney
Sloping lawn at dusk between flowering crepe myrtle, silvery shrubs and a palm, descending to the harbour and headland, Sydney
Pool reflecting overhanging trees, framed by sandstone boulders and palm fronds, with calm harbour water and waterfront homes beyond, Sydney
Curving cobblestone driveway with pale stone kerbs beneath a flowering jacaranda, tall palm, olive and spiky foliage, Sydney
Purple salvia beneath an olive tree against an ochre rendered wall with diamond lattice openings and pale stone arch, Sydney
Mature olive tree in a curved stone-capped planter beside cobblestone paving, with pencil pine, lattice-pierced ochre wall and stone arch, Sydney
Pale stone vaulted arch framing a raised planter of rosemary and trailing greenery, with hillside homes in the distance, Sydney
Tall branching cactus above a dark planted pot against a textured rendered wall with hexagonal lattice window and stone quoins, Sydney
Stone arch framing a red gravel garden of candelabra succulents and agave, enclosed by tall clipped hedging and pencil pines, Sydney
Entry courtyard with dragon trees, columnar cactus in weathered stone pots, terracotta tile awning and broad pale stone steps, Sydney
Columnar cacti and pink flowering succulents in weathered stone pots before a carved timber door, pencil pine and tiled awning, Sydney
Gnarled olive trunk and purple salvia underplanting framing a pale stone entry with carved timber door and tiled awning, Sydney
Cobblestone driveway passing a rendered facade with stone quoins, climbing vine, pencil pines and palms, with a hillside view beyond, Sydney
Sculptural rendered alcove with built-in bench beside a curved sandstone wall, red flowering shrubs, clipped mounds and slender palms, Sydney
Glass-topped dining table and wrought iron chairs beneath a vine-draped pergola, red bougainvillea framing a calm bay of Sydney Harbour
Organic rendered archway opening to a sheltered outdoor room with built-in bench, terracotta cushions and trailing heart-leaf vines, Sydney
Grotto-like rendered arch beneath a cascade of white flowering climber, with clipped hedging, lawn, star jasmine and spiky-leaved trees, Sydney
Sandstone block archway with stone steps, flanked by potted white hydrangeas and pink mandevilla beneath olive branches and pencil pine, Sydney
Lawn edged by mounded shrubs and silver-leaved plants, with sandstone steps climbing between curving palm trunks, water glimpsed beyond, Sydney
Pink and terracotta Achillea with coral flowering succulents and silver scalloped foliage at the base of smooth grey tree trunks, Sydney
Shaded sandstone loggia with potted mandevilla and silver-leaved plants, looking over flagstone paving and lawn to the harbour, Sydney
Covered outdoor dining room with leather and wrought iron chairs, built-in banquette and abstract metal wall sculpture, framed by foliage, Sydney
Pool edged in pale stone before a carved sandstone alcove with white lounge chairs, potted cactus, agave and fiddle-leaf fig, Sydney
Angular pool with stone coping beside a large terracotta urn, potted yellow rudbeckia and spiky succulents, with harbour view beyond, Sydney
Waterfront timber deck with round table and chairs above a small sandy beach and rocks, seen through palms, Sydney
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