Demolition of my garden wall. It aint good for community, streetscape or art.

I have given up on waiting for a streetscape upgrade by Council. I am taking matters into my own hands and am redesigning my front garden to encourage

A) My neighbours to hang out in my space
B) Improve the overall streetscape.
C) Make the space functional for my family.

This is post two on my front garden.  My last post focused on how my garden is already helping the community: it gives the time. Take a look at Post One on my community Garden Clock.

The next design strategy i have employed to encourage  my three objectives is DEMOLITION.

DEMOLITION: FRONT FENCE

There was some angst about removing the front brick fence. I recognise that it is part of the house’s architecture but it is also a physical barrier. I want to encourage people to enter my private space – the small brick  fence was not helping.

Furthermore the yellow brick of my house  dominates the streetscape.

Let me explain – I love 50′s houses but the architecture of my house is almost Brutalist in its appearance when compared to the more delicate weatherboards (and their ever so charming picket fences) of the early 1900s.

The brick house coupled with its brick fence and its neighbours brick house and associated brick fence was perhaps just a tad too much brick for the remainder of the weatherboard street?

Even so I could not remove the brick fence without paying it some homage. Attempts were made to retain part of the fence but it collapsed during demolition. As a solution we kept the first course of brickwork to act as edging material for the proposed grantic sand. (Phew – no need to buy the metal edging).

The brick pillars that defined the driveway were also a total pain. I could not get the bins out of the front yard when the car was in the drive and I could barely get the car in the drive without the fear of creating damage. Sorry heritage heads – there is a need for spaces to be functional and perform. They had to go.

DEMOLITION: KERBING

Oh a bit more demolition. See the concrete kerbing in the first image (separating the grass and concrete drive). Gone. Major trip hazard. It drove me bonkers. Lucky my house does not have a heritage overlay. Thankfully 1950s garden treatments has gone undetected by urban planners in Melbourne.Yep the kerbing is beautiful but it is located in a totally stupid part of the garden.

DEMOLITION: GRASS AND SHRUB

There were no tears when the lawn was removed. What a stupid waste of space.

The hydrangea was a different story. Beautiful full and glorious in the summer. It needed little attention – and it just performed. Oh dear – I may regret that decision. The main drive for its removal was due to it NOT being native. mmmm

The next post will be the last in this series of three posts.

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