In 2003 Evan was approached, as an ex-boarding student of the college to design a large central courtyard space. The courtyard was a heavily trafficked area of lawn, soggy in some patches, reduced to bare soil in others, which didn’t offer much in the way of recreation. 

The concept was inspired by a flight over salt lakes in central Australia. 2003 was the final year for the college providing boarding facilities to rural students and the design was intended to give ‘the country’ a permanent position in the school. ‘Bubbles’ of raised beds were constructed to direct traffic flow easily but in an interesting, welcoming manner. The shapes divide the large area into more palatable sections, create intimate spaces, reduce maintenance requirements and ensure lawn areas, whilst available for use, are not trampled to the point of no return. 

Planting selection centred around low maintenance/low water use species and included many Australian natives such as the magnificent silvery drifts of Eucalyptus caesia ‘Silver Princess’. Ochre’s signature freeform walling provided the bones of the design as the flexibility and manageability of poured concrete allowed fantastic shapes and personalised touches, such as imprinted text. Key readings are inscribed into the sides of the walls as a gentle reminder of the schools fundamental principles. Commemorative tiles, each individually created and signed by students, past and present, weave a trail throughout the space linking the whole design.