The Grotto

The design achieves a sense of peaceful magic by bringing together gentle natural elements, with minimal reference to man-made structures or the urban environment.

It is a small space that you might quickly pass by or stop in and enjoy for just a moment… but in that moment you are swept up by the sounds of water, the texture of rock, many shades of gentle green and some invigorating scents…

…Your senses will be enchanted

This design imagines what could be achieved in a small space with very challenging conditions. For example, here we might have a courtyard with a concrete slab floor that does not allow for in-ground planting. The garden designed for this space is fully containerised and the water features use a small amount of reticulated water. Imagine that it receives full sun throughout the day, which can be harsh in a small space with hard surfaces, even in the temperate Melbourne climate considered for this design. The plants look ethereal and delicate, but they are all hardy and sun-loving. My design work aims to tackle the most unlovely and unloved corners, transforming these areas into precious additions to a client’s living space, and imbuing empty spaces with resonant and memorable qualities. I hope the viewer feels a sense of peace and magic when they stop in front of The Grotto, and are momentarily transported away.

This design started as a way to exemplify the principles and motivations of my design work, and to pay homage to the things that capture my imagination. It is also a truly accessible design - made with my own hands, in my own backyard, and can be installed onsite without the use of heavy machinery. Recycled and reclaimed materials have been used where possible, including polystyrene boxes and found materials. 

The plants are not exotic or hard-to-find, with deliberate intent. This design aims to bring magic back into everyday life; so ordinary, old-fashioned or well-known plants have been selected and presented in a new and interesting context. The plants are all relatively low care, ensuring that the garden does not become a burden to its owner. The plants that are growing in soil have low water requirements. The tree has been selected for its resemblance to a water-loving willow, but is an Australian native. 

The design aims to achieve a sense of magic and peace by bringing together gentle natural elements, with minimal reference to man-made structures or the urban environment. It remains a small space that you might quickly pass by or stop in and enjoy for just a moment- but in that moment the viewer is swept up by the sounds of water, the texture of rock, many shades of gentle green and some invigorating scents from the steppable plants near the platform. Catch the rupturewort and nepitella leaves with your shoe as you ascend the platform - the smell will delight you!

The Grotto feels like a fitting name. In this design, all senses of the word grotto are present: the water and rock of a sea cave; the grotto as a shrine marking a sacred site (or “a mysterious place where extraordinary events may occur”1); and the landscape design trend in fashionable 18th and 19th century English gardens, when travellers to Europe, enchanted by the Roman-influenced Renaissance villas they had seen abroad tried to recreate the magic and mysticism of grottos at home. 

1 The Oxford Companion to The Garden, edited by Patrick Taylor, Oxford University Press, 2006