The connection between the architecture and outdoors is re-energised through the entertaining areas, creating spaces that immerse and flow across the property. Natural stones, architectural concrete, soft timbers and an array of plant life has helped tease the existing landscape into this brilliant new space, which has been designed to be enjoyed throughout the four seasons.

The out of ground swimming pool tackles the sloping land, ensuring a visual continuity beyond and into the backyard, and provides its residents with effortless views when swimming, or sitting back and relaxing in a warm spa.

An expansive alfresco zone provides as a modern, functional entertainment space, featuring an outdoor kitchen and a carefully considered fire pit nook. In its secluded-ness, the home feels removed from suburbia, and yet through a highly refined and detailed approach to its landscaping, a contemporary comfort is felt.

This project was an exciting opportunity to add to what is already an enviable home, now adorned to flaunt a big wow factor. The design has successfully crafted a uniquely responsive outdoor space that listens to its landscape intuitively and emerges to be the beating heart of the home, all year round.

Awards

• GOLD•

SPASA 2026
Awards of Excellence Victoria
Concrete Pool up to $160,000

• FINALIST •

SPASA 2026
Awards of Excellence Victoria
Pool Landscape Design

• SILVER •

Landscaping Victoria
2025 Industry Awards
Residential Landscape Construction
$100,000 — $300,000

• BRONZE •

Landscaping Victoria
2025 Industry Awards
Pool in the Landscape

• BRONZE •

Landscaping Victoria
2025 Industry Awards
Softscaping in the Landscape

Project Overview

Landscape Design: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

Landscape Construction: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

Pool: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

Landscape Maintenance: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

Photos: Erik Holt Photography

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The material palette is modern and monochromatic, balancing exquisite light grey limestone pavers, black timber batten screens and silver stainless-steel appliances (barbecue and outdoor fridge). An in situ concrete bench with waterfall sides and adjacent bench seat further compliments the grey-toned colour scheme, accompanied by a ‘floating’ concrete step down into the backyard, with a built-in outdoor umbrella providing optional and adjustable shade in summer.

The showstopper in this design is without a doubt the cantilevered arbor. Custom-made in black steel, the arbor will, over time, feature a draping vine providing both a softening green outlook as well as shade.

Modest in scale but grand in intention, this intimate backyard is a timeless sanctuary—inviting you to unwind, gather, and indulge in effortless elegance for years to come.

Awards

• GOLD •

Landscaping Victoria
2025 Industry Awards
Residential Landscape Construction
up to $100,000

• BRONZE •

Landscaping Victoria
2025 Industry Awards
Residential Landscape Design
under 250sqm

Project Overview

Landscape Design: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

Landscape Construction: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

Architectural Concrete: Zambelis Concrete Artistry

Photography: Tim Turner

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Project Overview

Landscape Design: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

Landscape Construction: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

Concrete Swimming Pool and Spa: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

Photography: Realty Writers

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This passive home has been thoughtfully reimagined through a multi-functional extension that blends old and new in seamless harmony. While the design is deliberately pared back to remain true to it’s natural environment, it remains rich in greenery, fun and detail, a considered synthesis of architecture, interior, and landscape.

Set on a steep and challenging site, the house is wrapped in warm timber cladding that softens the interplay of concrete and metal, allowing the structure to gently nestle into the outdoor spaces and be absorbed by the surrounding bushland.

With a strong emphasis on year-round usability, the original garden footprint was carefully preserved. A wall of tilt windows dissolves the boundary between indoors and out, opening the heart of the home to both the backyard and the enveloping native landscape, creating a true sense of immersion in nature.

With passive design at its core, this thoughtful home adapts effortlessly to family life, a future-ready sanctuary made for living, growing, and remembering.

Media Highlights

• THE DESIGN FILES •

Digital Publication
October, 2022

• HOME BEAUTIFUL •

Magazine Feature
August, 2023

Project Overview

Landscape Design: Esjay Landscapes + Pools and Platylobium

Builder: Sanctum Homes

Building Designer: Maxa Design

Styling: Belle Bright Project

Photography: Marnie Hawson

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At the front, a dramatic entryway of oversized floating concrete steps forms a bold and inviting pedestrian path, both practical and visually striking. This grand approach is framed by black fencing and carefully positioned masonry walls, offering both visual structure and important access. Trees provide privacy and scale, while layers of green, silver, and deep-toned foliage introduce contrast and natural texture.

To the rear, the terraced deck features an upgraded built-in BBQ bench with integrated seating, soft furnishings, and retractable blinds. This flexible space can be enclosed for comfort and privacy or opened to flow seamlessly into the garden. A lush lawn nook, enclosed by dense boundary hedging, retains a sense of intimacy and seclusion. Opposite the pool, a feature cantilever pergola adorned with climbing greenery creates a stunning focal point, softening the hardscape while establishing shade and a rich green backdrop.

Together, these elements create a seamless extension of the interior, a cosy, adaptable space ideal for year-round living and entertaining. Additional to the new features, finishes have been upgraded with low-maintenance artificial decking and elegant stepping stone pads that lead into the lawn, enhancing both usability and visual appeal.

Be it your morning coffee on the lounge or a delicious alfresco meal shared with friends, this alluring and functional design concept really delivers on wow factor and ambiance.

Project Overview

Landscape Design: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

Renders: West 3D Visuals

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At the heart of it all sits a curved swimming pool, its feature edge softening the geometry of the space and extending into a built-in pool bench for lingering in the shallows. A connected spa sits alongside a pool beach, offering a gentler, gradual entry into the water. The concrete terrace surrounding the pool ties the whole area together, its pale, textured finish grounding the space against the surrounding greenery.

Nearby, a lounging area shaded by a statement umbrella offers a spot to slow down, while the entertainment terrace deck extends the living space outdoors, built for long afternoons that drift into evening. An outdoor pizza oven anchors the entertaining zone, drawing family and friends together around the fire.

A feature wall with curved stairs marks the transition between levels, its sculptural form doubling as a piece of garden architecture in its own right. Below, a lower path terrace unfolds with curved, stepped plantings that soften the descent and blur the line between built form and garden.

Further along, a fire pit area with seating and a metal edge creates a second gathering point, one designed for cooler nights and quiet conversation. Access paths and stairs lead up to the pool terrace, while a lawn path provides discreet access to the pool equipment, keeping the practical elements of the garden out of sight but never out of mind.

Throughout, layered drift plantings soften every edge, drawing the garden together in loose, naturalistic sweeps of texture and colour. An outdoor shower sits tucked into the greenery, a small luxury after a swim, and a feature curved bench seat offers another place to pause and take it all in. Wide access stairs connect the levels with ease, designed as much for movement as for making an entrance.

Our Donvale design concept is a garden built for living in, each terrace considered on its own terms yet woven together into a single, unhurried whole.

Project Overview

Landscape Design: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

Visualation: AI-assisted concept visualisations prepared from the proposed landscape design. Images are indicative only and intended to communicate design intent.

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The main living area flows effortlessly onto an outdoor alfresco deck for dining, leading directly to a full-size tennis court. This area also provides access to the front entrance, featuring stepping stones and accent planting, creating a dramatic alternative entry to the garden for guests. From the main deck, two inviting destinations await. One path leads to a cozy fire pit area with built-in seating, overlooking the tennis court. The other destination is a covered alfresco terrace, highlighted by a generous swimming pool entertainment area, complete with poolside lounging, a built-in BBQ, a spa, and a pool beach, all overlooking a newly landscaped seating area.

The western side of the property features an elevated outdoor deck with casual seating, perfect for twilight relaxation, where you can unwind and enjoy the garden’s ambiance. From this deck, pathways wind through the gardens, with one path leading to the garage and another circling around the house, providing access to the shed and fire pit beyond.

These varied facilities make full use of the property, creating an ideal setting for relaxed afternoon lunches while watching family enjoy a game of tennis or cricket, or taking a refreshing swim in the pool. Thoughtfully designed to provide maximum amenity and functionality, our Sorrento landscape design project guarantees a lifetime of memories, and a quintessential home away from home.

Project Overview

Landscape Design: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

3D Renders: West 3D Visuals

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Down the steps and level with the ground floor of the house, a huge 12 meter pool features for the ultimate in summer fun. The pool is completed with a modern beach platform and functional handrail guidance. Beyond the pool lies a large expanse of lawn, bordered by a newly paved, sinuous driveway that leads up to the garage and ample open parking space. Next to the garage, a utility area housing bins and a clothesline, is consciously concealed behind a neat timber screen.

An all-inclusive outdoor kitchen caters for outdoor entertainment and gatherings, under the impressive pitched roof of an alfresco that shelters the kitchen, outdoor lounge and dining areas. A fire pit provides another hub for outdoor socialising, with an adjacent ‘floating’ concrete bench seat that cantilevers for a stunning visual continuum.

A hardscape palette of quality materials tied together by a contemporary, monochromatic colour palette, provides a refined backdrop to this new, luxe landscape. Existing boundary trees have been kept where they provide useful screening, along with the well established pine tree at the rear of the property. The new planting palette includes a cohesive mix of hardy natives as well as some select ornamental species.

The highest quality outdoor lighting is the cherry on top of the design, clinching the awe of this spectacular garden throughout day and night. Thoughtfully designed to provide maximum amenity and functionality, our Wonga Park project guarantees a lifetime of memories for its occupants, and that home is always a good idea.

Project Overview

Landscape Design: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

3D Renders: West 3D Visuals

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noun
a free or unenclosed space outdoors.
“getting out in the open air”

Being in nature and fresh, open air is proven to be successful in boosting mood, decreasing stress, and reducing high blood pressure and heart rate.

Unhindered by the small area, our team wanted to capture the beauty and tranquility of an outdoor space at home, and demonstrate that through harnessing water flow and whimsical plantings, harmony and modern aesthetics collide for the ultimate courtyard – a place to relax, wind down and be at one with the world outside.

This elegant show garden provides you with an opportunity to lounge about in a relaxed, yet luxurious setting. Sweeping curves reflected around the design soften the hard surfaces and rigid lines. A crisp, white pergola frames the space with dappled light, creating delicate shadows and flattering the mirrored diameter of the spa.

A brass water feature acts as an alluring water curtain, ensuring privacy and creating a unique backdrop to the garden. The minimal, yet sophisticated brass detail is carried through to the in-situ concrete day bed, extending the fine detail and adding a touch of class to the space.

Lay back and immerse yourself with the tranquil sound of water, overlooking a lavish circular spa and layered planting, which has been carefully selected to evoke a sense of calm and peacefulness. Informally positioned with predominantly soft tones and textures, the plant palette is accented with architectural leaves and branches, to add an extra element of style and structure and complete this contemporary haven.

Laze, unwind and replenish.
Be in the Open Air.

Awards

• TOP 5 FINALIST •

Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show
Boutique Garden Competition 2024
Presented by Landscaping Victoria

Project Overview

Landscape Design: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

Landscape Construction: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

Photography: Tim Turner

Our Partners

Boutique Gardens Material Sponsors

Gardens at Night

Warners Nurseries

Bio Gro

The post Open Air appeared first on Esjay Landscapes + Pools.

The alfresco and entertaining area is adorned by a freestanding pergola with the greenery of Boston Ivy climbing it’s posts. Black timber batten screening is the backdrop for the contemporary in situ concrete bbq bench, complete with waterfall sides and black joinery. The pool area boasts a sleek limestone paving surround and a smooth natural grey render applied to the raised retaining wall that adjoins the pool, contrasts with the black pool barrier vertical rods, allowing plants to trickle their way through, tumbling over the retaining walls to soften the space.

Transitioning out of the pool area, a long stretch of lawn feeds into black steel riser steps, grey toppings and paver pads, where a fire pit nook and stylish concrete bench seats await. The addition of a black timber-clad carport gives the added bonus of extra parking, with an open side to view the colourful informal planting and circle steppers.

Following along the fence line, a row of cheerful white-flowering Magnolias ensure privacy, whilst the frameless glass pool fence visually expands the space and promises unimpeded views into the pool from the internals of the home. A garden ready to be enjoyed, for new memories to be made throughout all seasons of the year.

Project Overview

Landscape Design: Esjay Landscapes + Pools

3D Renders: West 3D Visuals

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