Residential Build category winner, Landscapes of Distinction Awards 2025. Kaiapoi, Canterbury. Built by Sculptural Landscapes, designed by Kawakawa Studios.
The brief was to turn a small blank space into a peaceful, eclectic sanctuary. Winding bluestone paver paths, cut from boulders and spaced to encourage a relaxed pace, lead from a patio for entertaining to a quiet meditation garden. Large rocks double as seating and a play spot for grandchildren.
Corten steel straight-curve edging lifts the garden above the path for depth on a flat site, disappearing cleanly into the boulders and concrete. There is no lawn: the whole space is filled with flowers, medicinal herbs and shrubs of interesting form. The client describes it as beautifully crafted.
Why it matters
Every Registered Master Landscaper has earned the right to carry the mark, so the professional you hire is current, accountable, and backed by a national association that stands behind its work. Find a Registered Master Landscaper at masterlandscapers.org.nz.
Project credits
Member: Sculptural Landscapes. Designer: Laura Batchelor, Kawakawa Studios. Landscapes of Distinction Awards 2025.