When a home already has such a strong architectural identity, the landscape doesn’t need to compete for attention. Instead, thoughtful landscape design can soften, complement and strengthen the architecture, creating a seamless connection between the built form and its surroundings.
Set across 6.1 acres and bordered by Tamborine Creek, Rivière is an extraordinary Wongawallan country estate designed by the talented team at ESPIĒ. With its soaring cathedral ceilings, natural materials, expansive glazing and strong connection between indoor and outdoor living, the home has a distinctly refined yet grounded character.
Our role at Botany Design Co. was predominantly focused on the landscape planting design; curating a considered collection of plants that would feel at home within this beautiful hinterland setting while complementing the architectural materials palette.
planting to complement the architecture
One of the defining landscape elements at Rivière is the use of Corten steel throughout the property. Its warm, weathered russet tones appear across architectural details, raised planters and sculptural landscape features, creating a beautiful connection to the natural colours of the surrounding country landscape.
This became an important reference point for the planting palette.
Rather than introducing excessive colour, we focused on foliage, texture and form. Rich greens provide depth and softness against the Corten, while carefully selected silver and grey-toned foliage creates contrast, bringing lightness and another layer of interest to the garden.
It’s a wonderful example of how horticultural knowledge and landscape design work together. Plants are not simply selected because they look beautiful individually: they are curated for how they respond to the architecture, their neighbouring plants, the site conditions and, importantly, how that composition will develop as the garden matures.
creating a welcoming arrival
The front entry provided another opportunity to introduce planting as an important part of the architectural experience.
A collection of bowl water features and a cluster of contemporary pots with feature trees were incorporated to create height, dimension and strong focal moments on arrival.
These sculptural elements help bridge the scale of the residence and surrounding landscape, while planting brings softness to the harder architectural materials and creates a more welcoming transition towards the home.
Sometimes it is these carefully considered details; a feature tree, the placement of a pot, a contrasting foliage texture etc that makes a landscape feel truly curated.
a landscape connected to place
With Tamborine Creek wrapping around the estate, expansive lawns and the beautiful natural character of the Gold Coast hinterland beyond, it was important that the garden still felt connected to its country setting.
The planting therefore needed to strike a careful balance: sophisticated enough to complement an architecturally designed residence, but relaxed and textural enough to belong within the wider Wongawallan landscape.
For us, this is where the value of considered landscape garden design really comes into its own. A successful planting palette can connect architecture to landscape, soften built form and give a property its own distinctive sense of place.
your curated garden
It was a privilege to contribute to a home of this calibre and to complement the beautiful work of the ESPIĒ team through a carefully considered landscape and planting palette.
At Botany Design Co., we believe the success of a landscape is not just in how it is built, but in how it is planted. Every plant, texture and focal point has an opportunity to contribute to the bigger picture.
Thoughtfully designed. Carefully planted. Made to be lived in.
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Designed and Developed by ESPIĒ
About Rosie Gillespie, the creative driving force behind ESPIĒ