A minimalist landscape to complement a new build in Aotea, Porirua

Exciting ideas

New homeowner Terrance had recently purchased his Aotea property, a new build with loads of potential on the outside. The area surrounding the home was a blank slate of dirt, grass, and gravel but he envisioned a polished landscape that complemented his home’s modern exterior. 

Terrance had been working with the construction team throughout the building process, so he knew they were going to take care of some of the earthworks. He already had landscaping plans in hand, so he just needed an experienced team for the execution. He found that in Landscaping Consultant Abhi Kamra of Zones Wellington. 

Long-term planning

Abhi and Terrance discussed what he wanted to achieve for the project. Terrance and his partner are avid gardeners and wanted a low landscape that was inspired by Oriental techniques with lots of hardscaping and deliberate planting. In particular, Terrance wanted a path that flowed effortlessly from front to back so he could take guests around the property. 

After wrapping up their consultations, Abhi proposed a plan that saw plants with different maturation dates forming the path throughout the landscape. This would enable Terrance to watch his garden grow and thrive over the years. The rest of the design utilised various hardscaping materials like gravel, turf, paving, and raised plant beds. Abhi estimated this initial design iteration would cost $55,000. Terrance was focused on achieving a quality result at a fair price, so to him, this project was invaluable. 

Breaking ground

The early planning stages took place while Terrance’s home was still in active construction. This meant Abhi had to wait until construction was finished before he could begin the landscaping portion. Since they were taking on the final earthworks, Abhi liaised with Terrance’s builders to ensure they levelled the property to the appropriate degree. The builders were slightly delayed due to council inspections but Abhi maintained communication so they could adjust their own schedule accordingly. 

With autumn ending and winter right around the corner, Abhi and his team were just getting started. They finished levelling the landscape, excavated some areas in preparation for in-ground gardens, and installed the artificial turf. Initially, Terrance had a hard time selecting the best material, so after offering thorough evaluations Abhi arranged a meeting with a turf specialist so Terrance could make a well-informed decision. At different points throughout the project, Terrance also opted to make a few variations to the scope. In the end, the final cost of the project came to just over $62,000 and took five weeks to complete.