With its authentic decor, evocative colour palette and rich tapestry of textures, this inviting courtyard offers a taste of the exotic.
This Moroccan-themed courtyard in Queensland’s Sanctuary Cove offers the homeowner an outdoor living space that is as alluring and exotic as it is comfortable.
“The client had travelled to Morocco, loved it and wanted to recreate the experience. She sought something warm, cosy and colourful with an array of textures to stimulate the senses, so we created an upmarket, modern Moroccan courtyard with some Mediterranean influences and a touch of elegance,” says Noel Brown, director of Bioscapes Gold Coast.
Every element in the courtyard was carefully considered, starting with the custom-built seating. “The pentagonal form of the seating makes this a perfect space in which to gather, either chatting with friends or entertaining,” says Noel. “The open side of the built-in seating faces the house, making the space feel extremely welcoming, and as it comes straight off the living area and kitchen, the indoor-outdoor flow is seamless.”
The seating is complemented by silk Moroccan cushions and throws, Moroccan-style laser-cut metal wall panels, and mirrors, pewter side tables, brass camel sculptures, a shisha tobacco pipe, stainless steel lanterns and hexagonal candle holders to reference the strong geometry of the seating. Noel, who styled the courtyard, finished it off with matt black plant pots to match the fire pit, which doubles as another seat or a table for refreshments.
Lighting was an essential component of the project. “There is amazing Aqualux neon flex strip lighting under the cantilevered edge of the seating that casts a warm-white glow,” says Noel. “Asymmetric uplights from Aqualux are countersunk into the top of the seats. These have an amber lens to enhance the cosy ambience.”
Just as much care went into the selection of materials. Natural limestone pavers with a tumbled finish were chosen for their earthiness. The seating was clad in Silvergum ModWood, which is low maintenance, and the black powdercoated screens are of aluminium for durability.
Feature plants act as focal points and add drama. The hero is a magnificent 250kg three-metre-high, multi-headed dragon tree that had to be manually installed. Noel also planted an established yucca along with Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Rosea’, also known as Firesticks, and clumping palms. The orange/red leaves of the Firesticks symbolise the hot desert; the palms, a cool oasis.
The main construction challenge Noel faced was access, as the only way in or out was under a gangway bridge. This meant Noel and his team spent many hours bent over wheelbarrows and trolleys, removing demolished materials and bringing in the new elements, from paving to plants.
The result speaks for itself with the project winning the Residential up to $50,000 category in the 2019 Landscape Queensland Construction Excellence Awards. Even though the courtyard measures just 30sqm, Noel has been able to create an inviting space with an open feel, which he describes as “the perfect place to sit, relax or converse”.
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