Pocket Parks and Gardens
fjclandscape designs small parks, courtyards and gardens that make a large difference to daily life. In tight urban and heritage settings, these spaces offer shade, planting and a place to pause.
Our work includes the gardens of The Harrington Collection in The Rocks, the public space at Crane Place, 200 George Street, the courtyard at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the community garden at Darlington Public School and the community veranda at Melton Library and Learning Hub.
Capella, Kensington
Two apartment buildings on Anzac Parade set around more than 3,000 sqm of landscaped gardens and a lap pool, winner of the Randwick City Council Best New Commercial and Mixed Use Award in 2006.
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery Courtyard
A courtyard within the museum’s heritage fabric, designed in accordance with Burra Charter principles.
Crane Place, 200 George Street
A stone ground plane folds into steps and displays the site’s archaeological finds.
Our Approach
Small Spaces, Real Value
A courtyard or garden can change how a building and street are used, giving people shade, green and somewhere to stop. Small spaces are designed with the same care as large parks, so every corner, setback and forecourt adds value for the people who live, work and walk nearby.
Heritage and Story
Courtyards and laneways reveal the history of a place, from The Rocks to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Stone, levels and interpretation draw on the stories of each site, so even a small garden can help people understand the layers of history that have shaped their surroundings over time.
Planting and Shade
Planting is layered for shade, seasonal change and habitat, even in the smallest spaces. Trees, shrubs and groundcovers are chosen to suit light, soil and use, so compact gardens provide cooling and greenery through the year and support birds, insects and other wildlife in dense urban settings.
Places to Pause
Steps, edges and seating are designed as places to sit, meet and watch the city. Generous ledges, low walls and well-placed benches turn small spaces into everyday meeting points, inviting people to linger, eat lunch or pause on their journey, and bringing life to the street around them.
Community Gardens
Gardens can teach and connect; at Darlington Public School, the community garden shares Indigenous knowledge of plants. Community gardens bring neighbours, students and families together, offering a place to grow food, learn about Country and build relationships that extend well beyond the garden gate and into the wider neighbourhood.
Detail and Craft
Stone, timber and bronze are detailed to last, as in the stone and bronze ground of Crane Place. Durable materials and careful craft give small spaces a sense of quality and permanence, and reduce the cost of maintenance, so each garden continues to look well cared for over many years.
For further information about our pocket park and garden capability, please enquire by email. You can also explore fjclandscape and our selected landscape projects.