Welcome to the first in our series of design talks, where our new garden editor, Will Dangar, interviews key talents within the gardening world.
I first became aware of The Garden Social director Asher Cole’s work when I was researching pool fencing references for a project of my own. I landed on her Newtown project, and I couldn’t help but feel envious of how well- crafted the compact space appeared. A common mistake many emerging designers make is overworking a design and asking a space to do too much. Upon reviewing more of her work and after speaking with her for this interview, it is clear that she and her small team are well-positioned to deliver considered and enduring outcomes for their clients for many years to come.
This feature originally appeared in est magazine issue #57: ‘Kitchen Expressionism‘.
Warren Road project.
The Bakery project.
How did you get into landscape architecture?
Asher Cole: Like a lot of people, I wasn’t quite sure what direction I wanted to go as I headed into my final year of school. The career advisor sat me down and asked me what I love; it was a fascination with people and a love for nature that I had inherited from my dad. I had a grandiose idea that I wanted to change the world and leave a lasting mark. The career advisor suggested I look into landscape architecture, which was the first time I had heard of it. I enrolled at the University of Canberra and completed my degree in 2006. It was a brilliant course.
Did you manage to get any practical experience while studying?
Asher Cole: Yes, I worked in residential landscape design in my final year and transitioned to commercial design. I received a great job offer on the night of my graduation ceremony. Still, I couldn’t quite make the connection between the landscape and its role in the bigger picture, so I declined and took up a philanthropic role in Tanzania.
That feels like a major pivot. What influenced that move?
Asher Cole: I was a little lost, to be honest. I think going straight into such a specialised degree before knowing who I was wasn’t the right move for me at the time. I saw a feature on Australian Story about The School of St Jude, which an Australian woman, Gemma Sisia, established. I called her to express how inspiring I found her, and when I asked how I could get involved, she offered me a volunteer role.
How did this time abroad inform the trajectory of your creative practice?
Asher Cole: It definitely had an impact on my career. My role was to manage large groups of short-term volunteers who would stay at the school for a few weeks. There were many confronting aspects for people to come to terms with, and I learnt very quickly how to manage people who were vulnerable.
This ability to take the time to understand people and identify their vulnerabilities has become key for me in working with clients; they’re investing a lot into a build that they often know little about.
Once I returned, I went on to work for a large commercial firm that trained me in the discipline required for big-scale projects and planning. However, this didn’t feel like the right fit after my experience, so I transitioned to residential design for ten years. I decided to start my practice in The Garden Social in 2020.
Director of The Garden Social Asher Cole.
The Inherited Garden project.
How has your horticultural training evolved?
Asher Cole: There was a decent amount of horticulture in the degree, but the biggest learnings have been on the job and through a personal love for plants. I am obsessed with how they combine as a palette.
I go plant sourcing every month, driving around to different growers to see what’s available. We encourage clients not to finalise planting plans until the structure of the garden comes together, as we often make last-minute changes as the site develops.
I have been lucky to work alongside great horticulturists, and one particular consultant, who is a dear friend, advises on our more complex projects. We love to talk through new combinations and how they may perform. When we’re experimenting with new things, it’s great to have a second opinion from a horticultural perspective. It’s exciting.
We’re fortunate in landscape design that we can gain all this knowledge from a variety of talented architects. How do you find this in the work you’re doing?
Asher Cole: We’ve formed strong relationships with architects where there is this very mutual respect for what we bring to a project. We collaborate in the early stages, where there is still space to share ideas as a team and resolve key project elements. We often try to take a simplified approach to the hardscape elements and work with the plant life and shadow play to bring a space to life. The landscape is so intertwined with the architecture and the way it feels. This relationship should always be considered from the outset.
The most trusted consultants are known for pairing the right talent with the right client. Which architects are you currently collaborating with?
Asher Cole: We’re working with a great range of architects who are aligned to our approach, and they’ve been pivotal in helping us develop the business. including some amazing talents like MCK Architects, Akin Atelier, Alexander&CO., Luke Moloney Architecture, Gong Architects and many others. We recently completed a large project on the South Coast with Atelier Andy Carson.
Good outcomes are often the result of great client relationships. How do you determine the fit between the client and your practice?
Asher Cole: We’ve been lucky to date to attract clients that are aligned with what we are trying to achieve and that are good people. Our initial meetings are crucial for determining whether we’re a good fit for the client and vice versa. It has to be mutually beneficial for both parties. It’s a fabulous relationship when it’s a great pairing, and it always results in the best outcome.
Oyster Catcher.
I love what I do creatively, but I sometimes have a hard time with the bureaucracy that comes with it. How do you find the process?
Asher Cole: I agree. Some of the checklist items required to get projects approved often feel like a waste of time and come at a significant expense to both the client and their resources. I think the approval process from a landscape perspective could be simplified and made more effective. We’re huge advocates for new builds that have as much green space as possible; the greener the better.
How do you work in the implementation phase?
Asher Cole: It’s taken a while for us to get this right. We now have a great pool of contractors who understand the level of detail that is important to us. Forming those relationships, where we can explain what we want to achieve and lean into their expertise, brings projects to life in the best possible way. This requires both parties to be heavily invested. We’re constantly asking, ‘Could it be done better?’
Do you have a garden of your own?
Asher Cole: Yes, I do, and I adore it. We’re on a 600 square-metre block just south of the city. It’s a ’60s fibro shack that we purchased because of the enormous Jacarandas and Cabbage Tree Palms that hover over the house. It’s the core of our home.
How do you see the practice developing over the next five to ten years?
Asher Cole: I’d love to keep on a similar trajectory. We’re an intimate firm and I would love to stay that way. A small studio with a small team of creatives who push each other to perfect our skills, alongside continuing to strengthen our relationships with other creatives, where we can explore and try ideas and hone in on select projects that align.
What are your favourite types of plants? Do you have a particular one?
Asher Cole: Not really, there are so many I love. We’re obsessed with plants. I love understanding plants that are native to the site and looking at how they can be better integrated into our gardens. Our selection of plants varies with every project. It’s very driven by the context of the site, the architecture, as well as plants that may hold value for the client. We love it when a client says, ‘There was this plant from my childhood,’ and finding a way to integrate that in.
View St project.
“We often try to take a simplified approach to the hardscape elements and work with the plant life and shadow play to bring a space to life. The landscape is so intertwined with the architecture and the way it feels. This relationship should always be considered from the outset.”
– asher cole
Warren Road project.
Where do you think your work will lead you—Australia-wide and internationally?
Asher Cole: We would love to be up there on the international stage. A project in a rural and rugged area of Southern Italy would be fantastic, as I would love to be thrown into a challenging environment where we needed to study the natural landscape and take our lead from that.
We do that now with our rural projects, but I would welcome the opportunity to do something similar somewhere overseas; anywhere we could touch the earth lightly.
You’re an emerging practice, but you have an innate sense of calm. You’re not in a hurry—so it is nice to be able to highlight the work of people who are keen but modest.
Asher Cole: Thank you, that means a lot.
Warren Road project.
Warren Road project.
