matakana A considered collaboration of thoughtful design, trusting clients, and a site where craftsmanship shines.
Project Design:
Sculpt Garden Design
Photography:
Kate Little Photography
Set in a natural clearing in Matakana, this new home rests gently among the land’s soft contours, with open views stretching across rural hills to Mount Tamahunga.
Rochford was tasked with translating the design vision into reality - a brief that played to our strengths.
The layout features Corten steel-edged pathways, permeable surfaces, raised planters, expansive patios, and planted screening to create a rhythm, function, and flow.
“This garden was imagined as more than just a space, it was designed to grow, provide, and connect,” explains Naomi from Sculpt Garden Designs.
At its heart is a zig-zag formation of vegetable planters, a feature that subtly echoes the weave of a kete. “The form is symbolic as well as functional - a gesture toward care, intention, and craft.”
From the outset, our Operational Manager, Kelvin, noted the site’s potential:
“It had strong bones and was ready to shift gears. We focused on creating shapes, reshaping edges, and tightening the space so it felt sharp but not overworked.”
That early work laid the foundation for a landscape built to evolve.
Planting throughout blends hardy natives with flowering textures for movement, scent, and seasonal interest: all selected for long-term resilience.
“We aimed to blend resilience with beauty,” Claire adds, “bringing in bird- and bee-attracting species to add energy, colour and subtle rhythm.”
Behind the design: Naomi Gray’s hand-illustrated client plans.
