BLUE ALLURE

THIS SCANDINAVIAN-INSPIRED GARDEN IN SYDNEY’S EAST IS A TRIPLE THREAT, WITH A POOL, SPA AND A SHOWSTOPPING SAUNA

- KAYLA WRATTEN

A sauna is not a feature you would usually spot in the backyard of an eastern suburbs Sydney home, just a few minutes walk from the beach. Yet, for Finnish-born homeowners Minka and Tomi, this was an outdoor must-have in the home they bought four years ago for their family. “For Finns, saunas are really important,” says Minka. “Finland has five million saunas for a population of 5.5 million.”

Yet, this sauna – and the landscaped oasis it sits in – is not like one you’d find in Scandinavia. “The sauna is right in the middle of the garden, but it doesn’t block off the space in any way because we’ve designed it in glass,” says Landart director and principal designer Matt Leacy, who with Landart designer Tom Wright, was engaged to create a garden oasis for the couple and their two children. “It works really nicely to keep the whole space open.”

To create a look that took in the best of both Australian and Finnish design, local staples including a private cabana and an abundance of green palms were combined with traditional Finnish elements including a more minimalist style. “We wanted to create our own resort,” says Minka. “The look and feel is Scandi-Aussie.”