Dramatic landscape design by Urban Exotic...

The owners of this terrace in Paddington, Sydney wanted to create a modern courtyard in the 42sqm of space at the rear of the terrace. As well as being a space for entertaining, the courtyard needed to provide privacy in the high density area and be aesthetically appealing from all angles, including from the master bedroom which overlooks from above. The lady of the house also dreamed of replicating a water feature experience from a recent trip to Bali, a water wall that she could stand under and have water cascade over her into a bath-like pond beneath. You can see below how well landscape designers Urban Exotic were able to realise her dream..

It was a big call to divide up such a small space into separate areas for dining and cooking, but I think the division works well, creating the illusion of more space, not less. Equally brave was the choice of
Van Hesling black for the perimeter walls. But that’s what hiring a professional can add to a project: the more daring ideas are often the most successful. In this case, the black is a perfect backdrop, amplifying the many shades of green in the planting and adding order and drama in equal portions.