How Aussie Home Builders Maximise on Garden Space in Inner City Plots

As Australia’s population continues to grow, our capital cities expand vertically more than they do horizontally, with inner city suburbs in particular boasting smaller and smaller land plots. With demand for metro-based homes at an all-time high and limited blocks of land available, there has naturally been a shift in residential development with many buyers opting for townhouses or apartments. However, these dwellings have limited outdoor space, and for many, the idea of having an outdoor garden or living space may seem unfeasible.

As a result, Australian home builders have been focusing on space optimisation for contemporary property developments. Here are just some of the methods and design features used by modern builders to curate compact garden spaces that are still spacious enough to accommodate outdoor living for Australian homeowners.

1. Outdoor Dining Areas & Courtyards 

Courtyards and outdoor dining areas are amongst the most popular design features to aid in organically maximising on garden space for inner city properties. These specially designed outdoor living features offer homeowners a private space for alfresco dining, relaxation, backyard sports, and even multimedia entertainment via the installation of a wall-mounted TV and sound system.

It’s also common to see Australian home builders incorporating outdoor kitchen facilities into these courtyards and dining spaces. With a built-in sink, kitchen bench, stove, and even a built-in barbecue, these outdoor dining features aid in not only making full use of your garden space, but also boosting the overall functionality of your Aussie backyard.

To create the ultimate courtyards, utilising hardscaping elements such as decking, stone paths, pavers and if possible, a patio can help create an open feel in all urban areas. By implementing clever landscaping designs such as a terraced garden or a raised garden bed, home builders can create a layered effect which helps segment your outdoor dining area or courtyard from your wider backyard, giving the illusion of extra space.

2. Vertical Gardens

Over the last few years, many homeowners with limited outdoor space have embraced the concept of vertical gardens. As the name suggests, these gardens make use of vertical areas such as walls or fences as the foundation for growing herbs, plants and certain varieties of vining vegetables. As vertical gardens can be designed with a lattice or trellis system with installed irrigation, the main benefit of this particular gardening method is that it allows homeowners to save on precious floor space.

This is why more Australian home builders are designing inner city garden spaces with vertical garden projects in mind, considering elements like solar orientation, fence materials, wall-mounted planter boxes, and even the positioning and dimensions of exterior walls to support vining plants.

3. Shared Green Spaces & Rooftop Gardens

For prospective homeowners looking into purchasing a strata title, chances are your inner city property may forgo a private garden space for a communal green space. This may include a private park with a playground for residents, a shared pool, or even a rooftop garden. 

Green roofs and rooftop gardens are becoming increasingly popular in densely urban areas for a few key reasons. Ideal for flat roofs, rooftop gardens can be designed to suit a range of designs, from ornamental plants to lawns and even edible gardens. They can also be designed to include outdoor seating areas, pergolas and even a small pond, with the right approach. 

Green roofs and rooftop gardens aren’t just aesthetically pleasing either. They can actually help regulate indoor temperatures, improve air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and help contribute to urban biodiversity by providing birds and insects with additional green spaces or green corridors across growing cities. And finally, these shared green spaces support the health and happiness of residents too, namely by ensuring that inner city residents can still enjoy a larger green space and don’t just have to make do with the pot plants on their balcony. It’s for all these reasons and more that Australian home builders are swapping out dozens of ultra compact gardens for one large shared green space or rooftop garden that accommodates every strata title owner comfortably.

4. Establishing Multi-Use Spaces

Maximising outdoor space in inner-city plots requires builders to think outside the box, which has seen a rise in outdoor spaces that serve more than one purpose. Many builders work on the idea of “small space, big impact”. This concept has seen outdoor spaces double as entertainment areas, play zones for kids or in some cases home office spaces are becoming popular in urban areas. 

There are many features that builders can utilise to transform an outdoor space with ease. Some notable design features include retractable awnings, built-in benches with storage space, or a fire pit that doubles as a table in the warmer summer months. Some home builders are even adding in high-quality Colorbond steel sheds that can double up as granny flats over simple garden storage. The option to transform steel sheds into an additional dwelling or functional space not only allows homeowners to maximise on their garden space, but also to take full advantage of their land plot, utilising every square metre available to them.

“Small Space, Big Impact”: The Future of Aussie Backyards

From courtyards and dining areas to multifunctional garden spaces, and vertical gardens, shared gardens, and green roof spaces, the possibilities really are endless when it comes to maximising an inner city backyard. For home builders, determining which design strategy is best suited for each build will naturally mean assessing the space, considering solar orientation, soil conditions, garden pathway and garden bed designs, and even looking into market demographics for that locale. 

With the right planning and design and creative use of space, however, Australian home builders are working to ensure that all homeowners can create an ideal garden space that will not only add value to their homes, but also improve their quality of life over the long term.