For Australians, indoor-outdoor living is a way of life. As such, achieving the perfect flow year-round is something all designers strive for. With summer entertaining and gathering with friends and family to relax and unwind upon us, Australian Design Review (ADR) talked to leading landscape designer and stylist Adam Robinson to uncover his design philosophy and predictions for the future of landscape design in an era of unpredictable weather. 

Australian Design Review (ADR) Indoor/outdoor living and bringing the outside in is a way of life for many Australians. What is your key piece of advice for achieving the perfect balance?

Adam Robinson (AR) I feel that landscaping is the critical element if you want to create a harmonious link between your home’s interior and exterior. The outside of your home should resonate with what’s inside your home, by involving similar colours, textures and finishing touches, so the connection between the two areas flows effortlessly from one to the other.

ADR: For architects or interior designers, what would you suggest they should be aware of to ensure that the landscape design can work in harmony with their design?

AR: The most important thing would be to make sure that whatever boundary line exists between the interior and exterior can disappear easily when needed. Opt for French doors, bi-fold and sliding doors to create an open plan so both spaces can merge as much as possible.

It’s important to keep in mind furnishing styles, colour schemes, lighting and décor used inside the home, and that they are mirrored outside. For instance, if you have a very minimal or maximal interior, you should continue that aesthetic outdoors. 

Also, something we often use is natural stone outside and then inside the initial interior spaces within the front foyer or rear living spaces of the house to bring the outdoors in. Do whatever you can to create unity and seamless connection between inside and out.

Having plant life inside the home maximises the feeling of being connected to nature, making it essential to ensure there are areas of natural light within the architecture so plant life can be integrated inside the home.

ADR: How can nature and the outdoors be incorporated into an apartment or home with a small footprint?

AR: If you have some natural light in your apartment, you can incorporate plants in your living space. If you have a balcony, you can still create a little oasis you can escape to with plants and some outdoor furniture or built-in seating. Even a windowsill could become a potted herb or succulent garden. Your only inhibition is the breadth of your imagination!

ADR: What are the dominant themes you’ve been seeing within landscape design recently, and what are your predictions for the direction landscape design might go in the next few years?

AR: Sustainability and low maintenance are two directions in landscape design that will keep getting stronger. The inclusion of nature and natural elements inside and outside the home in the most artful way is going to be a dominant trend. Global cultures have always been inspired by nature to create art – but in the future, nature itself will be the most prized and precious art form. 

The creation of sensory spaces where people can interact with plant life, water, plant fragrances and the earth itself will be valued highly. The use of our uniquely beautiful Australian native plants continues to be popular. I have also seen more use of custom-designed, small plunge pools with lockable lids rather than larger lap pools with fencing.

Built-in seating for lounge and conversation areas within the garden enables maximum space for gathering friends and family together, usually with a firepit in the centre. The creation of ‘rain gardens’ will be something we will see more of in areas that have increasing storms and rainfall due to climate change. These functional yet beautiful gardens with interesting rock formations and well-suited plants to help redirect and absorb excess water from rainfall deluges will become increasingly popular and essential as climate change continues to impact our way of living. 

Adam Robinson is a landscape designer and horticulturalist. He founded his eponymous multi-award-winning New South Wales-based studio in 2011, driven by a passion for outdoor living combined with innovation in design. Having worked on exceptional residential and commercial projects, Robinson is one of the country’s leading landscape designers and outdoor stylists. 

Project images courtesy of Adam Robinson Design. Lead image courtesy of Harbour.

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