Coogee Common Visit - Landscape Architecture and Urban Farming
Recently we visited a completed Seedesign Studio project that is close to our hearts. Coogee Common, located on the coast in the south of the Perth suburbs was a dream job for our team of landscape architects.
The 7000m2 site perched between the suburbs and the beach, is a busy and productive working garden. An abundant variety of fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit are grown in the gardens to supply the onsite restaurant and bar as well as the nearby award winning Bread in Common. The heritage listed limestone Coogee Hotel building was beautifully renovated and refurbished by local architects Space Agency and now houses the bar and restaurant.
On the sunny Autumn morning when we walked through the site, the small but talented team of horticulturalists were busy working in the gardens. We walked the rows of vegetables that we carefully designed to be sheltered from the harsh summer ocean winds, and looked down on the site from its highest point.
The design plays on layers of monocultural plantings which create depth, texture and colour. In places the site works at the scale of a domestic garden design but then opens up to give a sense of expansive space. Mature grape vines growing up the timber arbor, creates seasonal colour and layer with the rows of soft blue green mature olive trees.
With more and more people doing what they can to reduce their carbon footprint and reconnect to nature, there is growing interest in Perth in a garden design that integrates a productive element. Whether it’s vegetables gardens, ornamental herb plantings or espaliered fruit trees, we believe we can uphold this project as an exemplar that we are proud of. This place showcases how great landscape architecture can create meaningful memorable places that contribute to community.
We are looking forward to visiting the site again in the spring when the garden will be bursting with growth and the restaurant and bar will be busy and bustling again.
See more project photos here.