Scenic Court | Belair, Adelaide Hills
Construction by Desert Flower Landscaping | Design by Ali Gardiner
This striking hillside garden in Belair, in the Adelaide Hills foothills, showcases what's possible when thoughtful design meets expert construction. Working in collaboration with landscape designer Alison Gardiner, we transformed a steep and challenging sloping site into a dynamic multi-level garden that blends beauty with everyday functionality.
Our brief was to build a modern garden with clean lines, well-defined zones and a welcoming feel - combining structured and flowing planting with a mix of high-quality natural materials chosen for both longevity and visual impact.
Terracing a Steep Hillside Site
The significant slope posed real construction challenges, from moving materials down to the lowest point of the block, to managing water safely across the site through both dry and wet seasons. Navigating limited access and rugged terrain, our team engineered a series of retaining walls, along with hand-built stone and timber stairs, to carve the hillside into distinct terraced zones — each with its own purpose and character.
A Fire Pit for Gathering
At the rear of the garden, a large fire pit terrace brings together a confident mix of materials in an amphitheatre-style layout, creating a natural gathering space that draws people in as the temperature drops.
A Front Garden Retreat
To the front of the property, an organic-shaped paved pad offers another spot to seek warmth and company. Anchored by a chiminea, seating and a bird bath set atop an existing stringybark gum stump, this space also takes in sweeping views over the city and sea.
Materials & Craftsmanship
Material selection was central to this project. Crazy-paved Grecian splitstone and bluestone steppers guide movement through paths of compacted Yankomite quartz sand, while sandstone walling defines retaining edges, seating and feature elements throughout the garden. Corten steel edging contains garden beds, and a curved feature retaining wall in honed, slimline white brick adds a contemporary contrast, weaving in and out around the paving and timber stairs.
As the property sits in a bushfire-risk area, solid spotted gum timber was used for the extensive decking, integrating the home's existing stairs with new stairs, ramps and seating spaces, the same timber carried through to the front stairs leading down to the fire pit.
Native & Sustainable Planting
With sustainability front of mind, Alison Gardiner's planting plan prioritised drought-tolerant natives throughout, selected to attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife into the garden. Edible plants were interwoven among the natives, rainwater tanks were installed, and materials were sourced locally wherever possible, reflecting the same climate-conscious approach we bring to construction on every Desert Flower Landscaping project in the Adelaide Hills.
Award-Winning Garden Design & Construction
This project was recognised at the 2025 MLSA Awards of Excellence, winning three honours: Residential Construction Exceeding $500,000, Best Use of Green-Life, and the Judges' Choice Award. We'd like to thank Alison Gardiner for an outstanding design and planting plan, and for collaborating closely with us throughout construction, as well as our clients for being fantastic to work with along the way.
