Castlecrag Courtyard project is on Cammeraygal Country. 

Castlecrag, is unique suburb 10km North of Sydney CBD.  The suburb planned by the Griffins in the 1920s whose desire was to create community living in harmony with the natural environment.  

Downie North Architects brought me onto the project in 2016 and The Griffins legacy provided inspiration for the design of the house and garden.

Downie North’s new house design took into account the sloping ridgeline location, the North/South orientation of the block while orientating a family home around a central courtyard.  

The landscape objectives included:

• Creating a private garden inspired by local bushland, reintroducing planting layers while celebrating the existing sandstone outcrops  

• Creating a roof garden to extend the area of planting and to view from the upper levels of the house

• Create a natural pool to feel like a lagoon/ water hole in the landscape

On arrival, a stepper path amongst dense native planting leads you to the entry of the house to recreate a walk through the bush.Sandstone outcrops were protected on site revealing the geology and sandstone boulders were reclaimed to retain garden levels and to create cracks and crevasses for lizards and insects. Re-Introducing canopy, shrub and groundcover layers on site was very important.

Developing a diverse, dense and mostly endemic shrub, herb, grass and groundcover layer was very important to re-introduce back to the site for insects, birds and lizard habitat.  The plants are already self seeding in the garden, as the canopy layer develops over time the microclimate of the garden will shift.This is an ever evolving process, managed by the client who loves being in his garden as well a horticulturalist.  

The pool to the rear of the block is an organic shaped, natural pool sited amongst a sandstone outcrop seam.  

The pool provides reflection and gives the feeling of a lagoon/water hole in the rear garden. 

The natural pool, installed by Landforms utilizes biofiltration which eliminates the need for harmful chemicals.  The lovely thing is that the freshwater is available for wildlife as a water source and the sandstone outcrop provides a great sunbaking area for reptiles. 

Creating biodiverse pollinating places starts with understanding the site’s typology and surrounding green spaces. 

By layering vegetation thoughtfully, we can foster biodiversity and support pollinators while ensuring these spaces evolve naturally, contributing to urban ecological health.

Country: Cammerygal Country

Completion: 2022

Architect: Downie North

Builder: Maincorp

Photos: Clinton Weaver & Owen Hall & Emily Simpson

Landscape Construction & Natural Pool: Landforms

Garden Care/ Horticulturalist: Zak Burich