EXPLORE
Movato
  • Interior Design
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Decor
    • Design Finds
    • Kitchen
    • Living Room
    • Paint
    • Renovations
  • Architecture
  • Landscape
  • Lifestyle
    • People
    • Places
    • Things
  • About Us
Movato
EXPLORE
Home in Canada
No Result
View All Result

A Peaceful Landscape Above the Cityscape

The garden terrace of a downtown condominium is a serene escape from the urban hubbub

by Julie Gedeon
October 3, 2017
Share on FacebookPin itTweet itSend it

Photography: Brenda Liu
Styling: Kennedy McRae

The design of a new garden terrace in a downtown Toronto condominium was influenced by the building’s sharp architectural lines.

“We made the arbour minimalist but angular in keeping with the building’s linear style,” says Kennedy McRae, project designer and a co-owner of Earth Inc., the company that created the space. “The cedar – which we used for all of the wood elements – will grey over time to match the building’s concrete surfaces.”

The horizontal lines of the cedar arbour and benches complement the building’s linear style and will grey over time to match the concrete elements.

The terrace is connected to a condominium that is located in the lowest third of the the highrise building. It measures a spacious 25 by 25 feet.

Earth Inc. divided the space into distinct areas for barbecuing, dining and lounging without obstructing the outermost sightlines. “I never put any plants along the periphery because the planters would have to be a minimum of 42 inches high for safety reasons, and I really don’t like anything in the way of people standing or sitting right at the railings to enjoy the fullest possible views,” McRae says.

The landscape designer chose globe thistle (Echinops), pink yarrow (Achillia millefolium), and other tall, hardy perennials for their vertical impact, long bloom, and ability to withstand harsh outdoor conditions eight storeys up.

By using tall perennials, he created distinct zones without having to worry about the wind load associated with actual wall dividers. 

Lilac-coloured hyssop (Agastache), globe thistle (Echinops), pink yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and purple coneflower (Echinacea), along with lime grasses, create vertical interest. Their slight wildness softens the strict lines of the building and arbour. “While each variety makes a nice impact within its own planted section, the overall looseness provides a feminine quality and balance to a predominantly masculine-oriented space,” McRae says.

Hyssop (Agastache) has a licorice scent and is a favourite of hummingbirds.

He selected perennials that flower for a long time but are able to withstand harsh outdoor conditions, including a cutleaf staghorn, a small variety of sumac. 

McRae opted for galvanized steel planters to support the arbour structure because of the strength they offer. “The steel is also similar in appearance to the frosted glass panel
between this condo and the one adjacent to it,” he adds. 

Somewhat wild-looking perennials and the pebbled spaces between the cement tiles soften the architectural angles.

The patio is further delineated by the dark pebbles between slightly spaced concrete slabs. “The beach stones open up the area a bit to make it feel like you’re crossing over a bridge from one area to another,” McRae says. 

“I always advise clients on a limited budget to spend their money on the vertical interests that will make the biggest impact,” he says. “They’re as important as the art that we hang up inside our homes and, if done right, no one will notice a plainer walkway or planters.” •

The plantings are kept away from the terrace’s edges to permit people to fully use the patio’s periphery. Lounge chairs: Andrew Richard Designs.

Originally published in the Autumn 2017 issue.

Earth Inc.
www.earthinc.com
416-216-0378

Tags: gardenlandscapelandscape designthrowbackToronto

Related Posts

Birds, Bees, Bats and Butterflies
garden

Birds, Bees, Bats and Butterflies

June 18, 2021

Colourful backyard plants have more advantages than just aesthetic appeal. They also foster a balanced ecosystem by attracting pollinators. According...

garden

Celebrate Spring by Creating Seed Bombs

May 22, 2021

It’s spring, so I’m celebrating by making seed bombs. A fun DIY activity for the whole family, creating seed bombs...

A Growing Business
garden

A Growing Business

October 13, 2020

Photography: Jean BlaisStyling: Jean Monet There is a popular misconception that people who make a living cultivating plants for the...

Community Spirit In A Residential Garden
Landscape

Community Spirit In A Residential Garden

October 8, 2020

Photography: Joshua Lawrence A rich mix of natural materials leads the eye to the home’s front door. Although designed pre-pandemic,...

The Art of Flower Arranging
garden

The Art of Flower Arranging

September 24, 2020

A dear friend recently cheered me up by leaving tulips at my door. Thank goodness she didn’t see what became...

Community Spirit in a Residential Garden
garden

Community Spirit in a Residential Garden

July 23, 2020

Photography: Joshua Lawrence Contemporary-style landscaping is all about sharp angles and minimalism. Nature, on the other hand, can appear random,...

Next Post
Go Ahead! Track Mud Into the House

Go Ahead! Track Mud Into the House

  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Issues
Made with ❤️ in Montréal

© 2020 Home in Canada

No Result
View All Result
  • Interior Design
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Decor
    • Design Finds
    • Kitchen
    • Living Room
    • Paint
    • Renovations
  • Architecture
  • Landscape
  • Lifestyle
    • People
    • Places
    • Things
  • About Us

© 2020 Home in Canada