Matt’s client requested a space where she could escape from everyday life, drawing influences from her tropical upbringing in Cairns and holidays in Bali. Matt set out to create a landscape within the Kohimarama gully which would be both an escape and a destination.

The garden has a strong oriental feel, but also a splash of subtropical. Matt amalgamated the natural bush backdrop with the existing bamboo shelter belt and older Acer palmatum tree, which was key to the design.

A gently trickling rill flows around spacious decks surrounded by lush subtropical plants. A pagoda above a lower deck forms the centrepiece of the garden, providing a unique, elegant space for outdoor entertaining. This garden flows beautifully and works as a single entity.