Suburban Oasis

SUBURBAN OASIS OFFERS A COTTAGE ALTERNATIVE CLOSE TO THE CITY

Suburban Oasis fulfils a retired couple’s desire for a cottage escape, while still giving them the conveniences of being close to the vibrancy of the city. Designed by Jennifer Turner Architect, Suburban Oasis is the transformation of the couple’s overgrown suburban backyard into a contemporary garden retreat where they can relax in nature when not at their pied-à-terre in Toronto.

Located in Whitby, Ontario, the existing garden had lacked a central vision. However, it did feature a number of mature trees—including two chestnut trees in the front yard, and a honey locust and a mature climbing hydrangea in the back yard—and a generous width with long sightlines throughout which provided the foundation for Jennifer Turner Architect’s design.

At the front of the home, a large hedge was removed to redefine the dwelling’s relationship with the street and give it a renewed presence. This design decision has created an open and welcoming approach, demarcated by a strip of grass along the street that playfully references the typical suburban lawn. A mature pagoda dogwood tree creates a leafy outlook from the living room that belies the suburban context. The front yard is delineated by a series of rectilinear garden beds that are planted with a mix of sweet woodruff, hydrangeas, hostas, phlox, monkshood, and anemones, combined with a mix of early spring and late spring flowering bulbs, creating a restrained but lush environment.

The hardscaping leads to the main entry of the house and subtly to a path that runs discreetly along the right side of the house to a service and storage zone. The rear garden is accessed via a small gate to the left of the home, which is marked by a scented lilac tree. From here, one’s eye is drawn to a colourful redbud tree on axis, while entering a cooking space with a barbecue and counter prep area.

A striking water feature is the central organizing element of the rear garden running along the full width and composed of three basins each creating the edge to three distinct “outdoor rooms”. In the sunny area of the garden a lounge zone with a casual seating arrangement of lounge chairs and tables and integrated Ipe bench, marks the edge of the first, and highest of two ponds; a central contemporary pergola for dining is bounded by the end of the elevated trough and water spout, which adds to the sensorial experience of the garden with the sound of spilling water; and an additional lounge area situated in the more private and shaded area of the garden neighbouring the second, lower pond.

The water feature establishes a gentle separation between the hardscaping and plantings and further creates two additional garden rooms. These lines of sight are the primary driver behind the design, complimented by linear elements including modular granite pavers, rectilinear plant beds, and Ipe (Brazilian walnut) timber fencing, which work together to accentuate the length of the site and make it feel more expansive.

“I’m an avid gardener and wanted to create a modern, structured garden with an appropriate sense of scale to elongate the space and make it feel larger than it did previously,” says architect Jennifer Turner. “This project was a unique opportunity to combine my love for architecture with my passion for landscape design and gardening. The design includes built elements, while also utilizing plantings and trees to create unique spatial experiences.”

The pergola—which was constructed on site due to the narrow access—takes the place of an existing garden trellis, and much effort was made to preserve the mature climbing hydrangea it supported. It now cascades over the pergola, giving it a sense of permanence and anchors it within the site. A retractable canvas cover offers additional shade, and curtains can be used to create a visual barrier to the house focusing the view on the lush garden and fountain.

An lpe timber fence that encloses the garden is modulated to address the different functions of each zone. A more permeable section by the first lounge area allows for borrowed views from the neighbour’s well-maintained garden and prevailing breezes, while more solid sections screen less desirable views and create a backdrop of lush plantings along the fence line.

While the mature trees were one of the site’s best attributes, they also posed one of the biggest challenges for the project—the need to build around their extensive root systems. In response, the majority of the garden is softly landscaped with the granite pavers laid on a sand bed so they can be easily reset if displaced by tree roots in the future. The water feature also responds to these constraints, with a clever elevated design that could be adapted as root networks were uncovered during construction.

Suburban Oasis is founded on the notion of wabi-sabi. The tonal palette of natural materials used throughout: the weathered steel water feature, granite pavers, the dark bronze powder-coated aluminium frame pergola, and the Ipe timber fence, will look more beautiful as time passes and they begin to weather. They create a warmth that compliments the house that has been painted a charcoal colour. But, it is the seasonal transience of the plants, the imperfections of how they grow, and the way nature will take its course and adapt to the controlled elements of the space, that will really allow the Suburban Oasis to come into its own.

PROJECT CREDITS
Landscape Architecture: Jennifer Turner Architect
Planting Design: Elise Shelley (OLA), Jennifer Turner Architect
Structural Engineer: Faet Lab
Photography: Nanne Springer, Riley Snelling
MATERIALS
Pavers: Granite
Driveway: Tinted concrete
Pergola: Powder-coated aluminium
Water feature: Weathered steel