Services
Established in 1985 PRB Design remains the forefront of modern garden design. We offer a complete service to suit the specific demands of each project, whether it be an inner city dwelling, or a sprawling country property.
Through a series of close consultation with the client, in our offices and on site, and with knowledgeable engagement during the architectural process, the garden evolves from initial concepts through to detailed working plans and documentation, which are CAD (computer-aided design) – generated. The document can then be tendered out to a choice of preferred and highly recommended contractors for pricing.
Our experienced horticulturalist, who works in tandem with growers throughout Australia, will source the highest quality plants available to realise the best possible results.
Integrated water management solutions are a particular focus, to address both localised water availability priorities, and a wider awareness of long-term sustainability issues.
Paul Bangay is personally involved with all projects – whether they be located in Australia or overseas and a personal design service will be tailored for your project.
Upon completion, a maintenance strategy is devised to preserve the integrity of the work, and a suitable gardener can be recommended to manage this if required.
We also have cordial relationships with some of the most admired contemporary sculptors in Australasia, who have worked with us to provide exemplary feature pieces to enhance the realisation of our projects.
Team
Clara
Senior Landscape Architect
Bachelor of Agricultural Science – Landscape Architecture (Honours) – University College Dublin
Team member since 2011
Duncan
Landscape Architect
Masters of Landscape Architecture – University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Environments – University of Melbourne
Team member since 2017
Emile
Associate
Registered Landscape Architect, AILA Member No. 6388.
Masters of Landscape Architecture, University of Canberra.
Bachelor of Arts in Landscape, University of Canberra.
Team member since 2017
Belinda
Procurement & Horticulture
Masters of Landscape Architecture – University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Applied Science – Horticulture
Team member since 2015
Biography
Born: 1963, Melbourne, Australia
Education: Bachelor of Applied Science (Hort), Melbourne University (Burnley Campus)
Member of Associations: Member of Horticultural Institute of Australia
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS
1991 Prahan Chamber of Commerce Development Committee
1991 Melbourne Major Events – Organising Committee for Major Events in Melbourne
1991 – 1993 Friends of the Arts – fund raising for the arts
1994 – 1995 Style Aid Steering Committee – fund raising organising for AIDS through the arts
1996 – 1997 Style Aid Committee President
1995 Melbourne Grand Prix Aesthetics Committee
1995 Melbourne International Flower Show Design Committee
2014- Ambassador, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI)
2018- Ambassador, Prince’s Trust Australia
2011-2018 Board Member, Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation
EXHIBITIONS
Botanica, Melbourne International Festival of the Arts. 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994. A horticultural
exhibition included in the arts festival. The Botanica component attracted over 100,000 people
each year.
Myer Melbourne Windows 1994. Burke Street Mall. Involved removing the glass from the main store
fronts for the first time in their history. Major commission – budget $300,000 for two weeks display
Melbourne International Flower Show – Guest designer 1995
Sotheby’s Decorator Show Room – Display for 1996 exhibition
Grand Boulevard Melbourne International Flower Show 1997
Botanica Display, Martin Place, Sydney 1997. $400,000 budget for 2 week exhibition in the center
of Sydney
Floribunda Display, Melbourne International Festival of the Arts 1997
Photographic Retrospective of Works – hosted by David Jones Sydney 1997
Art in Bloom – Perth Art Gallery 1997
Designex Guest designer – Showhouse 1998
St Ambrose Garden opening for the Victorian Open Garden Scheme. Attracted over 5000 visitors.
November 2001
Retrospective of works in Melbourne for Vision Australia. Seven major gardens attracting over
2000 people in one day. November 2002
St.Ambrose Farm open to the public. Attracted around 5000 visitors. November 2004.
St.Ambrose Farm open to the public. Attracted around 5000 visitors. November 2005.
Garden Design Fest 2006.
‘Stonefields’ Open to the public as SAKGF fundraiser event November 2009. Attracted around 5,000 visitors
Garden DesignFest 2010
‘Stonefields’ Open to the public as SAKGF fundraiser event November 2011. Attracted around 7,000 visitors
2014 Gold Award (Show Garden), Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS) for the installation “Tension”, shared with Conway Landscaping (Construction).
SCHOLARSHIPS
1994 – Awarded the Melbourne Arts Center travelling scholarship for artistic endeavour.
Travelled and studied landscape design for six months in America, South America and Europe working
with such people as David Hicks and Roberto Burle-Marx.
AWARDS
1989 – Mobil Pegasus Award for the best contribution to the Melbourne International Festival of the Arts
2001 – Centenary Medal awarded for outstanding achievement within the Australian community at the
commencement of the new century. In particular, for service in designing and constructing the
‘Aids Garden’ at the Alfred Hospital.
OTHER
Melbourne City Council – Virtual host for the City of Melbourne 1997
Melbourne Ambassador for Parks and Gardens 1998
Victorian Tourism Representative for Horticulture 1994, 1995
Judge at Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show 2006, 2007.
Judge at Abode Magazine ‘Landscape Of The Year Awards’ 2012
PUBLISHING
Works also published in Australian Vogue, Vogue Living and Vogue Entertaining; Italian Vogue;
Australian Belle; American House and Garden; English House and Garden; Australian Elle;
Mode Australia; Australian Country Living; Inside Out; Australian Womens Weekly, USA Traditional
Home; Australian House and Garden; Better Homes&Gardens.
Wrote weekly articles for The Melbourne Herald on Garden Design over three years.
Wrote monthy articles for the age (Melbourne) magazine.
1996 ‘The Defined Garden. The garden design of Paul Bangay.’ Published by Penguin Books. First
Australian Garden Design book sold to the UK
1998 ‘The Boxed Garden. Designs for small spaces.” Published by Penguin Books
2003 ‘The Balanced Garden. Town Country and courtyard.’ Published by Penguin Books
2005 The Enchanted Garden. Published by Penguin Lantern
2008 ‘Paul Bangay’s Garden Design Handbook’, Lantern
2016 ‘Paul Bangay’s Country Gardens’, Lantern
2015 ‘Paul Bangay’s Guide To Plants’- New Expanded Edition, Lantern,
2013 ‘The Garden At Stonefields’, Lantern,
2011 ‘Paul Bangay’s Guide To Plants’, Lantern,
TELEVISION
Burke’s Back Yard: April 2002. Segment of St.Ambrose Farm.
Good Morning Australia 2002-2005, Regular appearances in studio with Bert Newton and live crosses to
gardens in Melbourne and Sydney.
At Home with Maggie Tabberer, Biography Channel, February 2005.
Better Homes and Gardens, July 2006. Segment on St.Ambrose Farm.
Better Homes and Gardens, June 2010. Segment on Stonefields
The Circle, March 2012. Segment on Stonefields
PROJECTS DOMESTIC
Completed over 1000 large and small scale residential gardens in all states of Australia
Assistance with the restoration of Government House Gardens, Victoria
Restoration of St Marks Eastern Hill garden
Melbourne Peace Garden dedicated to and opened by His Holiness The 13th Dalai Lama of Tibet
Redevelopment of Como Shopping Center, South Yarra
Headquarters of R P Scherer Australia
Melbourne AIDS Memorial Garden
Positive Living Center Garden – Melbourne
Lighthouse Foundation Headquarters/Hostel – Melbourne
The Brosnan Centre, Brunswick – Jesuit Social Services
The Alfred Hospital Research and Education Precinct
PROJECTS INTERNATIONAL
Rock House Resort – Negril, Jamaica
The Resort – Roatonga, The Cook Islands
Residential Estates – South Hampton, New York, USA – previously designed in part by Russell Page
East Hampton, New York, USA – 5 acre new development
St Tropez, France – new bastide house and garden
Positano, Italy – three terraces of formal Italian garden
Water Policy
We aim, through design work, to minimise the amount of town or mains water required for your new garden. This is done in two ways:
1. By recommending the best way to harvest and store rain water
2. By reducing the total amount of water your garden will require through recommending the following:
2.1 Drip or water efficient irrigation technology
2.2 Heavy mulching using a mulch we have tried and proven to work in Paul’s own garden
2.3 Selection of drought tolerant plant species that still suit your style or landscape
2.4 Selection of drought tolerant lawns or (through consultation) reduction of lawned areas
2.5 Use of water crystals in our soil mixes
2.6 Careful and measured design of soft vs. hard landscape areas
All of the above points are expanded and documented in our landscape specifications so they can be implemented during the construction of your garden.
We believe with careful consideration of these points you can still have the garden size and style you desir