Located in North Adelaide, this residential landscape project reimagines a narrow and under-utilised rear garden into a functional and inviting space for everyday living and entertaining. Central to the design is the use of burnished concrete elements, integrated seamlessly with natural materials to deliver both durability and visual cohesion.

Project Challenge

The constrained footprint required careful planning to maximise usability while maintaining a sense of openness and flow. The client sought a cohesive outdoor environment that could support gatherings while remaining calm, refined and easy to navigate.

Boral Solution

Standard grey concrete in a burnished finish was selected as a key material to anchor the design, providing a robust, low-maintenance surface with a contemporary finish. Its versatility enabled the creation of sculptural forms and functional features that enhance both usability and aesthetic appeal.

“For this project, we used Boral’s standard concrete across all burnished elements, allowing us to achieve a consistent and refined finish throughout the space.”
— Jason Schulz, Yergan Landscape

Custom-formed burnished concrete seating wraps around the central chimney feature, creating a natural gathering point within the garden. The smooth, polished finish delivers a refined look while offering long-term durability in an outdoor setting. Integrated LED strip lighting beneath the seating introduces a soft ambient glow, enhancing safety and usability while highlighting the concrete form into the evening.

A burnished concrete benchtop was also constructed to support a feature pizza oven, providing a heat-resistant, durable and visually consistent surface. Together, these elements establish a cohesive material language throughout the space while supporting everyday use.

The burnished concrete is complemented by tumbled limestone paving, creating contrast between soft, natural textures and the clean lines of the concrete. This balance allows the concrete features to stand out as focal points while maintaining a warm and inviting overall aesthetic.

Project Outcomes

The use of burnished concrete has transformed the garden into a highly functional and visually cohesive outdoor space. Key outcomes include:

• Enhanced usability through integrated seating and cooking areas
• Improved durability with long-lasting, low-maintenance materials suited to outdoor conditions
• Elevated aesthetics through the contrast of burnished concrete and natural stone
• Extended use into the evening with integrated lighting highlighting concrete forms

Conclusion

This North Adelaide project demonstrates how burnished concrete can be utilised beyond traditional applications to deliver sculptural, functional landscape features. By combining durability with refined finishes, concrete plays a central role in creating outdoor spaces that are both practical and inviting.