GARDENS
Immersive landscapes crafted to evoke natural elegance and serenity.
With nearly 30 years of award-winning experience, Michael Mansvelt Design transforms landscapes into refined, living works of art. Drawing inspiration from Aotearoa’s natural beauty, our gardens are crafted to harmonise with their surroundings, blending native and exotic flora in thoughtfully structured spaces that invite exploration and tranquility. Our expertise in identifying areas to highlight, and layered design creates immersive sanctuaries that evolve with the seasons, ensuring each garden offers enduring elegance and a unique sense of place.
Gardens with structure have a strong identity.
Those without structure can appear random, and an observer can only appreciate the beauty of individual plants.
Structure, however, guides our gaze and connects the garden to the house and environments.
Although a collection of favorite plants may seem liberating, a thoughtful approach enhances the overall design.
Structuring a garden considering a plant's form, function, and emotional impact allows for a more memorable creation for all to enjoy.
Project Spotlight:
Legacy Garden, 2013
For this project, we crafted a legacy garden that harmonises with the owners' boomerang-shaped home and their love for native plants. Our team established a central axis lined with majestic rimu trees, creating a powerful visual spine that ties the garden to the home’s unique angles. We carefully balanced structure with softness, incorporating native species like kōwhai and tī kōuka to bring year-round colour, fragrance, and support for local wildlife, while a border of Manchurian pears allows winter sunlight to flood into the home.
In the heart of the property, we designed an inviting outdoor lanai featuring a fireplace and pizza oven, making it a perfect gathering spot with views over the garden. Our work extended to establishing an orchard and kitchen garden for seasonal abundance, introducing shade-loving plants as the garden matured, and adding unique elements like a fishpond and terracotta urns. This evolving landscape now thrives as a serene sanctuary, blending formal structure with lush, natural beauty for the owners to enjoy year-round.
