SETTING THE SCENE

Setting the scene

Open lawns and lush garden beds set the scene for a Sydney swimming centre

The landscaping around a prominent public or commercial building plays a vital role. It frames the building and turns its surrounds into an inviting and well-dressed space. Barrowar, a company specialising in large-scale landscape construction, was called in to transform the grounds surrounding the architecturally arresting Annette Kellerman Aquatic Centre in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville.

Working to a design by Cloustan Associates, Colin Bell and the Barrowar construction team set about creating a welcoming outdoor setting for the centre. However, before any planting could take place, approximately 300 tonnes of site soil needed to be spread and compacted to form the foundation for the large open grass areas adjacent to the building.

Garden beds were placed close to the building for their softening effect. This was achieved with mass plantings of fragrant groundcovers such as Star Jasmine and Gardenia radicans. Groupings of Agapanthus ‘Black Panther’ and the native grasses dianella and lomandra, along with NZ flax, give a carpeting effect suited to a large-scale facility such as this. The main entrance is heralded with mature broad-leaved paperbark trees.

The rest of the complex is surrounded by open-space lawns and parkland and there is a row of eucalypts edging the long intersecting pathway, which in time will grow to provide shelter and shade.

To complement the planting, there are concrete reinforced retaining walls finished in a chic black.

Barrowar specialises in hard and soft landscaping works, earthworks, soil preparations, paving and re-vegetation services with a particular emphasis on large commercial landscapes. Barrowar takes pride in delivering quality landscape construction to large commercial properties in metropolitan areas, as well as the greater Sydney region. Good-quality materials and workmanship ensure each project is delivered professionally, to budget and on time.

Project details

Landscape construction by Barrowar Pty Ltd Phone (02) 9654 3071 Mobile 0418 284 134 (Colin Bell) Email cbell@barrowar.com.au Photography by Diane Norris